Bowel movement and constipation frequencies and the risk of colorectal cancer among men in the Netherlands Cohort Study on Diet and Cancer

Am J Epidemiol. 2010 Dec 15;172(12):1404-14. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwq307. Epub 2010 Oct 27.

Abstract

The authors investigated the associations between bowel movement and constipation frequencies and colorectal cancer (CRC) endpoints among men in the Netherlands Cohort Study on Diet and Cancer (n = 58,279) and explored whether dietary fiber intake may modify associations. After 13.3 years (1986-1999), 1,207 CRC cases and 1,753 subcohort members were available for case-cohort analyses. Multivariate analyses showed a significantly increased hazard ratio for CRC overall and rectal cancer in men who reported having a bowel movement 1-2 times per day (second-highest category) as compared with once a day (CRC: hazard ratio (HR) = 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09, 1.53 (P(trend) < 0.001); rectal cancer: HR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.15, 1.95 (P(trend) = 0.001)). Hazard ratios for CRC overall and rectal cancer were significantly decreased and lowest in men who reported suffering from constipation sometimes or more often versus never (CRC: HR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.58, 0.98 (P(trend) = 0.02); rectal cancer: HR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.90 (P(trend) = 0.01)). No trends in the associations with proximal or distal colon cancer risk were observed. Interactions with dietary fiber intake were not significant. In this study, frequent bowel movements were associated with an increased risk of rectal cancer in men, and constipation was associated with a decreased risk.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cohort Studies
  • Colonic Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Constipation / complications
  • Constipation / epidemiology*
  • Constipation / therapy
  • Defecation*
  • Diet*
  • Dietary Fiber / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Netherlands
  • Rectal Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Rectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Risk Factors
  • Socioeconomic Factors