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Visceral obesity as a risk factor for colorectal neoplasm
Author(s) -
Oh TaeHoon,
Byeon JeongSik,
Myung SeungJae,
Yang SukKyun,
Choi KwiSook,
Chung JunWon,
Kim Benjamin,
Lee Don,
Byun Jae Ho,
Jang Se Jin,
Kim JinHo
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2007.05125.x
Subject(s) - medicine , waist , metabolic syndrome , body mass index , odds ratio , risk factor , obesity , confidence interval , asymptomatic , gastroenterology , colonoscopy , adipose tissue , colorectal cancer , endocrinology , cancer
Background and Aim: Obesity as a risk factor for colorectal neoplasm (CRN) is controversial. In the present study, we evaluated visceral obesity as a risk factor for CRN. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 200 consecutive, asymptomatic adults (male : female = 133:67, mean age, 50.9 ± 8.5 years) undergoing both colonoscopy and abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) scan for routine health evaluations. The presence or absence and the characteristics of CRN were determined during colonoscopy. The amount of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue was measured by an abdominopelvic CT scan. Body mass index, waist circumference, and percentage of body fat were measured. Blood pressure and other blood markers for assessing the metabolic syndrome were also investigated. Results: Of the 200 patients, 53 (26.5%) had CRN. Old age, smoking, metabolic syndrome, and a high fasting plasma glucose level were associated with an increased risk of CRN. VAT ( P < 0.01) and waist circumference ( P = 0.01) were significantly higher in those with CRN. A multivariate analysis of the risks of CRN showed an odds ratio of 4.07 (95% confidence interval: 1.01–16.43, P = 0.03) for those with VAT over 136.61 cm 2 relative to those with VAT under 67.23 cm 2 . Waist circumference, metabolic syndrome, and fasting plasma glucose levels were not independent risk factors for CRN in the multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Increased VAT is an independent risk factor for CRN. Further large scale studies are needed to clarify the causal relationship between VAT and CRN.