Vinikoor LC et al. (2008) Consumption of trans-fatty acid and its association with colorectal adenomas. Am J Epidemiol 168: 289–297

Consumption of trans-fatty acids is associated with an elevated risk of heart disease and possibly type 2 diabetes, but little is known about the consumption of trans-fatty acids and the risk of colorectal neoplasia. Potential mechanisms by which consumption of trans-fatty acids could affect an individual's risk of developing colorectal adenomas include increasing oxidative stress and inflammation either by altering the concentration of fatty acids or bile acids in the colon, or by increasing insulin resistance.

To investigate the association between colorectal adenomas and trans-fatty acid consumption, Vinikoor and colleagues assessed data from 622 patients who underwent colonoscopy. Of these study participants, 173 were identified as colorectal adenoma cases (mean age 57 years) and 449 were controls (no colorectal adenomas, mean age 56 years). A questionnaire was used to collect dietary information such as the frequency of consumption and portion sizes of different foods eaten during the year before colonoscopy, and the cooking methods used. Compared with controls, case patients consumed higher levels of trans-fatty acids, and the prevalence of colorectal adenomas was positively associated with high trans-fatty acid consumption. The adjusted prevalence odds ratio was 1.86 (95% CI, 1.04–3.33) when comparing patients in the highest quartile of trans-fatty acid consumption with those in the lowest. No such association was identified with lower levels of consumption, which the authors suggest indicates a threshold effect.

“These results provide further support for recommendations to limit the consumption of trans-fatty acids,” the authors conclude in the article.