A second look at the relation between colorectal adenomas and consumption of foods containing partially hydrogenated oils

The trans fatty acids in partially hydrogenated vegetable oil may cause col orectal neoplasia by interfering with cell membrane function or eicosanoid metabolism This possibility provided a rationale for looking at the relatio n between colorectal adenomas and consumption of foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils in 234 cases and 407 controls recruited from r eferrals for colonoscopy at University of North Carolina Hospitals in Chape l Hill, between 1988 and 1990. Feuds containing partially hydrogenated vege table oils were divided into four groups: sweetened baked goods, chocolate candy, oils and condiments, and french fries and chips. We observed no evid ence of increased adenoma prevalence associated with consumption of fries a nd chips (200+ us 0 kcals/day: odds ratio (OR) = 0.70; 95% confidence limit s (CL) = 0.27, 1.8) or chocolate candy (50+ vs 0 kcals/day: OR = 0.49; 95% CL = 0.23, 1.1). We did, however, find evidence of increased adenoma preval ence associated with consumption of sweetened baked goods (400+ vs <100 kca ls/day: OR = 1.9; 95% CL = 0.95, 3.8) and oils and condiments (200+ vs <100 kcals/day: OR = 2.4; 95% CL = 1.3, 4.2).