Prediagnostic plasma polyphenol concentrations and colon cancer risk: The JPHC nested case-control study
Nagisa Mori1, Neil Murphy2, Norie Sawada3
1Nutrition and Metabolism Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO), Lyon, France; Division of Cohort Research, National Cancer Center Institute for Cancer Control, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan; Section of Nutritional Epidemiology, Department of Nutritional Epidemiology and Shokuiku, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Tokyo, Japan.
This study measured plasma polyphenols to assess colon cancer risk, finding inverse associations for some coffee-derived compounds like 3,4-dihydroxyphenylpropionic acid. While not statistically significant after adjustments, these findings suggest a potential role for coffee polyphenols in colon cancer prevention.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Molecular Epidemiology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Dietary polyphenol intake studies show null results for colon cancer risk, potentially due to dietary assessment errors.
- An objective approach using prediagnostic plasma polyphenol concentrations was employed to assess colon cancer risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between prediagnostic plasma concentrations of 35 polyphenols and colon cancer risk.
- To overcome limitations of dietary assessment in previous epidemiological studies.
Main Methods:
- A nested case-control study within the Japan Public Health Center-based prospective study (JPHC Study).
- Plasma samples from 375 colon cancer cases and 710 matched controls were analyzed for 35 polyphenols using LC-MS/MS.
- Multivariable conditional logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Main Results:
- Circulating 3,4-dihydroxyphenylpropionic acid, ferulic acid, and caffeic acid were inversely associated with colon cancer risk in combined sexes.
- Specific associations were observed in men and women separately, including inverse for 3,4-dihydroxyphenylpropionic acid in men and caffeic acid/ferulic acid in women.
- All observed associations were nonsignificant after adjustment for multiple comparisons.
Conclusions:
- Coffee-derived polyphenols, including 3,4-dihydroxyphenylpropionic acid, ferulic acid, and caffeic acid, showed inverse associations with colon cancer risk.
- Despite nonsignificant results post-adjustment, these findings suggest a potential preventive role for coffee polyphenols in colorectal cancer.
