Open AccessFolate and fiber in the prevention of colorectal cancer: Between shadows and the light
Author(s) -
Wei Du,
Wen Ying Li,
Rong Lü,
Jing Fang
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
world journal of gastroenterology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.427
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 2219-2840
pISSN - 1007-9327
DOI - 10.3748/wjg.v16.i8.921
Subject(s) - colorectal cancer , medicine , confounding , cancer , alcohol consumption , cancer prevention , incidence (geometry) , folic acid , mechanism (biology) , oncology , physiology , bioinformatics , environmental health , alcohol , biology , biochemistry , physics , optics , philosophy , epistemology
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies and causes of cancer deaths throughout the world. Endoscopy has its functional and financial limitations; therefore, chemoprevention might be crucial in reducing the incidence of CRC. Although a number of studies have demonstrated the potential chemopreventive effects of folate (or folic acid), many challenges still remain. The relationship between folate intake and CRC risk is a complex association that might depend on many factors including gender, age, alcohol consumption, and smoking, all of which interfere with folate metabolism. The supplementary dose of fiber, the length of time required to observe the effects, and confounding factors exposed during the trial might also influence these findings. Therefore, more evidence from clinical studies is needed regarding the mechanisms that underlie the actions of bioactive food components in minimizing the risk of CRC.