Plant sterol intakes and colorectal cancer risk in the Netherlands Cohort Study on Diet and Cancer

Background: Plant sterols in vegetable foods might prevent colorectal cance r. Objective: The objective was to study plant sterol intakes in relation to c olorectal cancer risk in an epidemiologic study. Design: The study was performed within the framework of the Netherlands Coh ort Study on Diet and Cancer in 120 852 subjects who completed a baseline q uestionnaire in 1986. After 6.3 y of follow-up, 620 colon and 344 rectal ca ncer cases were detected. A case-cohort approach was used to calculate conf ounder-adjusted rate ratios (RRs) and their 95% CIs for quintiles of plant sterol intake. Results: The total mean (+/- SD) intake of campesterol, stigmasterol, beta -sitosterol, campestanol, and beta -sitostanol was 285 +/- 97 mg/d. Major c ontributors to plant sterol intake were bread (38%), vegetable fats (26%), and fruit and vegetables (21%). For men, there was no clear association bet ween intake of any of the plant sterols and colon cancer risk when age, smo king, alcohol use, family history of colorectal cancer, education level, an d cholecystectomy were controlled for. Adjustment for energy did not alter the result. For rectal cancer, adjustment for energy resulted in positive a ssociations between risk and campesterol and stigmasterol intakes. For wome n, there was no clear association between intake of any of the plant sterol s and colorectal cancer risk. Conclusion: A high dietary intake of plant sterols was not associated with a lower risk of colon and rectal cancers in the Netherlands Cohort Study on Diet and Cancer.