Colorectal Cancer
Copyright ©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 21, 2007; 13(31): 4199-4206
Published online Aug 21, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i31.4199
Obesity and colorectal cancer risk: A meta-analysis of cohort studies
Zhe Dai, Yan-Cheng Xu, Li Niu
Zhe Dai, Yan-Cheng Xu, Li Niu, Department of Endocrinology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China.
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Professor Yan-Cheng Xu, Department of Endocrinology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China. xuyancheng2002@sina.com
Telephone: +86-27-67813107
Received: April 16, 2007
Revised: May 7, 2007
Accepted: May 12, 2007
Published online: August 21, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the association between obesity and colorectal cancer risk.

METHODS: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library up to January 1, 2007. Cohort studies permitting the assessment of causal association between obesity and colorectal cancer, with clear definition of obesity and well-defined outcome of colorectal cancer were eligible. Study design, sample size at baseline, mean follow-up time, co-activators and study results were extracted. Pooled standardized effect sizes were calculated.

RESULTS: The pooled relative risk (RR) of colorectal cancer was 1.37 (95% CI: 1.21-1.56) for overweight and obese men, 1.07 (95% CI: 0.97-1.18) for women measured by body mass index (BMI). The pooled RR for the highest vs the lowest quantiles of BMI was 1.59 (95% CI: 1.35-1.86) for men and 1.22 (95% CI: 1.08-1.39) for women at risk of colon cancer, 1.16 (95% CI: 0.93-1.46) for men and 1.23 (95% CI: 0.98-1.54) for women at risk of rectal cancer. The pooled RR for the highest vs the lowest quantiles of waist circumference was 1.68 (95% CI: 1.36-2.08) for men and 1.48 (95% CI: 1.19-1.84) for women at risk of colon cancer, 1.26 (95% CI: 0.90-1.77) for men and 1.23 (95% CI: 0.81-1.86) for women at risk of rectal cancer. The pooled RR for the highest quantiles vs the lowest quantiles of waist-to-hip ratio was 1.91 (95% CI: 1.46-2.49) for men and 1.49 (95% CI 1.23-1.81) for women at risk of colon cancer, 1.93 (95% CI: 1.19-3.13) for men and 1.20 (95% CI: 0.81-1.78) for women at risk of rectal cancer. Compared with 'normal range', the pooled RR for proximal colon cancer was 1.14 (95% CI : 0.88-1.47) for the overweight and 1.41 (95% CI: 0.66-3.01) for the obese. The pooled RR for the highest quantiles vs the lowest quantiles was 2.05 (95% CI: 1.23-3.41) with waist circumference, 1.66 (95% CI: 0.69-3.99) with waist-to-hip ratio. Compared with 'normal range', the pooled RR for distal colon cancer was 1.38 (95% CI: 1.02-1.87) for the overweight and 1.23 (95% CI: 0.80-1.90) for the obese. The pooled RR for the highest quantiles vs the lowest quantiles was 1.86 (95% CI: 1.05-3.30) with waist circumference, and 1.79 (95% CI: 0.82-3.90) with waist-to-hip ratio.

CONCLUSION: Obesity is a statistically significant risk factor for colorectal cancer and the relationship is more significant in men than in women among different cancer subsites. Indexes of abdominal obesity are more sensitive than those of overall obesity.

Keywords: Obesity; Colorectal cancer; Waist-to-hip ratio; Waist circumference; Weight; Cohort study; Meta analysis