Five ways to prevent bowel cancer: Study

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDOct 27 2010

According to the latest research five simple lifestyle changes could cut the risk of bowel cancer by 23%. The Danish study enrolled 57,053 adults aged 50 to 64 without cancer between 1993 and 1997. They were followed up closely for 10 years. Results showed that people who followed public health recommendations (not smoking, a healthier diet, etc.) for each of these areas had a lower risk of developing colorectal cancer during this time.

The study was conducted by researchers from the Institute of Cancer Epidemiology and Aarhus University, both in Denmark, and was funded by the Danish Cancer Society. It was published in the peer reviewed British Medical Journal.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in developed countries. More than 100 new cases are diagnosed in the UK each day. Several lifestyle factors can contribute to the risk of this cancer, including physical activity, smoking, alcohol intake, waist circumference and diet.

The study formed a Diet, Cancer and Health Cohort Study in Copenhagen with the participants. Participants were selected if they had no previous diagnosis of cancer according to the Danish Cancer Registry. Each participant was asked to fill in a questionnaire asking about their current smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity (from work and exercise) and diet. The questionnaire also contained questions on a number of other lifestyle, health and social factors. Some body measurements, such as waist circumference, were also collected.

A score was allotted to each participant. World Cancer Research Fund and the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations suggested a score of zero indicated the least healthy lifestyle and a score of five indicated the healthiest. One point was allocated for each of the following; -

• Not smoking.
• Being physically active for at least 30 minutes per day or having a job with light or heavy manual activity.
• Waist circumference of less than 88 cm for women and 102cm for men.
• Weekly alcohol consumption of fewer than seven alcoholic drinks for women and 14 for men.
• A ‘healthy diet’, defined as eating more than or equal to 600g of fruit and vegetables per day, less than or equal to 500g of red and processed meat per week, more than or equal to 3g of dietary fibre per megajoule (MJ) of dietary energy, and less than or equal to 30% of total dietary energy from fat.

Results from the study showed 8% scored zero or one on the lifestyle index scale, 26% scored two, 40% scored three, 25% scored four and 1% scored the maximum of five. There were 678 cases of colorectal cancer detected during the follow-up period. People who had higher scores on the lifestyle index scale had lower incidence of colorectal cancer.

Researchers concluded that if all the participants had followed the health recommendations for all five risk factors, 23% of colorectal cancer cases could have been avoided. Lead researcher Helene Kirkegaard and colleagues conclude, “Our study reveals the useful public health message that even modest differences in lifestyle might have a substantial impact on colorectal cancer risk and emphasizes the importance of continuing vigorous efforts to convince people to follow the lifestyle recommendations.”