PRIMARY PREVENTION OF COLORECTAL-CANCER THROUGH FIBER SUPPLEMENTATION

Epidemiological studies have emphasized the importance of diet in the etiology of large bowel cancer. A high intake of dietary fibre has bee n hypothesized to decrease the risk of colorectal cancer . This hypoth esis is now being tested within the framework of intervention studies, Supplemental fibre is being used in four chemopreventive trials as wh eat bran (22.5 g/day together with vitamins C and E, New York study; 2 5 g/day, Australian study; 50 g/day,Toronto study; 13.5 g/day, Arizona study) and in one trial as ispaghula husk (a mucilaginous substance) at 3.8 g/day (European Cancer Prevention Organization study). One stud y is evaluating the effect of fibre on adenoma size in patients with f amilial polyposis and an intact rectum, and the other four studies are focusing on the recurrence of adenoma in patients with previous adeno mas, The results available so far provide some evidence for the inhibi tion of adenoma growth through a high-fibre and/or low-fat diet, Furth er results are expected within a year, If there is sufficient evidence for a protective effect of dietary fibre on colorectal carcinogenesis , a simple, safe and inexpensive prophylaxis for a very common cancer will be indicated. Eur J Cancer Prev 7 (suppl 2):S29-S32 (C) 1998 Lipp incott-Raven Publishers.