MACRONUTRIENT INTAKE AND RISK OF COLORECTAL-CANCER IN ITALY

To provide further insight on the relationship between macronutrients and colorectal cancer, overall and by specific subsite(s), we carried out between 1992 and 1996 in 6 Italian areas a case-control study on 1 ,953 individuals of both sexes with incident colorectal cancer (age ra nge 19-74) and 4,154 controls (age range 19-74) in hospital with acute , nonneoplastic diseases. A validated food-frequency questionnaire was used, including questions on 78 foods or recipes and on individual fa t-intake pattern. The risk of cancer of the colon and rectum increased with total energy intake (odds ratio in highest vs, lowest quintile 1 .43 and 1.50, respectively). The risk also rose significantly with an increase of starch intake, whereas it moderately decreased with an inc rease of protein intake. Monounsaturated fat intake appeared uninfluen tial, while saturated fat intake showed a modest direct association wi th rectal cancer. Polyunsaturated fat intake was inversely associated with colon cancer risk, particularly with the right colon. (C) 1998 Wi ley-Liss, Inc.