[A case-control study of diet and colo-rectal cancer in Japan]

A case-control study of cancer of the colon and rectum was conducted in Kyoto, Japan. A total 62 cases of cancer of the colon and 52 cases of cancer of the rectum were individually matched by age at interview (+/- 5 years) and sex to same number of hospital controls. Cooking with oil and confectionery were significantly increased risk factors for cancer of the rectum. Margarine was a significantly increased risk factor for cancer of the colon. These results suggests that dietary fat plays an etiologic role in carcinogenesis of the large intestine. Factors already demonstrated or thought to affect the development of colo-rectal cancer were also reviewed.