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. 2013 Jul 15;178(2):172-83.
doi: 10.1093/aje/kwt099. Epub 2013 Jun 19.

Dietary intakes of red meat, poultry, and fish during high school and risk of colorectal adenomas in women

Katharina Nimptsch  1 , Adam M Bernstein, Edward Giovannucci, Charles S Fuchs, Walter C Willett, Kana Wu
Affiliations

Dietary intakes of red meat, poultry, and fish during high school and risk of colorectal adenomas in women

Katharina Nimptsch et al. Am J Epidemiol. .

Abstract

Adolescent diet may be etiologically relevant for colorectal carcinogenesis. We examined the association between meat and fish intakes during adolescence and the risk of colorectal adenomas later in life among 19,771 women participating in the Nurses' Health Study II. Subjects had completed a validated food frequency questionnaire in 1998 (when aged 34-51 years) about their diets during high school and subsequently underwent at least 1 lower-bowel endoscopy during the study period (1998-2007). During this period, 1,494 subjects were diagnosed with colorectal adenomas. Intake of red meat during adolescence was not associated with colorectal adenoma risk when comparing those in the highest versus lowest category of intake (odds ratio (OR) = 1.04, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.81, 1.35). Similarly, intake of fish during adolescence was not associated with colorectal adenoma risk (OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.78, 1.17). Intake of poultry during adolescence was associated with a lower risk of total colorectal (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.64, 0.99), distal (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.51, 0.99), rectal (OR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.29, 0.90), and advanced (OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.38, 0.93) adenomas. Replacement of 1 serving per day of red meat with 1 serving per day of poultry or fish was associated with 41% and 35% decreased risks for rectal adenomas and advanced adenomas, respectively. Our findings do not suggest an association between red meat intake during adolescence and colorectal adenomas later in life, but higher poultry intake during this time was associated with a lower risk of colorectal adenomas.

Keywords: adenomatous polyps; adolescent; fish; food intake; meat; poultry.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for risk of adenoma and subtypes of adenoma associated with replacement of 1 serving per day of various protein sources for 1 serving of total red meat during high school in the Nurses' Health Study II, United States, 1998–2007. Multivariable model adjusted for age (in years), family history of colorectal cancer (first-degree relative, yes/no), time period of endoscopy (2-year study period interval), number of reported endoscopies during the study period (1 endoscopy vs. ≥2 endoscopies), reason for most recent endoscopy (screening vs. symptoms), height, body mass index (weight (kg)/height (m)2) at age 18 years (<18.5, 18.5 to <23, 23 to <25, or ≥25), pack-years of smoking (0, 0 to 10, >10 to 20, >20 to 40, or >40), current physical activity (quintiles), physical activity during 9th–12th grades (quintiles), aspirin use (never, past, or current 1 day/week, 2–3 days/week, 4–5 days/week, or ≥6 days/week), high school energy intake (quintiles), and current cumulative average alcohol intake (quintiles).
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