Gene-diet interactions in colorectal cancer: survey design, instruments, participants and descriptive data of a case-control study in the Basque country

Authors: ALEGRIA-LERTXUNDI, IKER - University Of Basque Country; AGUIRRE, CARMELO - University Of The Basque Country Upv/ehu; BUJANDA, LUIS - University Of Basque Country; FERNANDEZ, FRANCISCO - University Of The Basque Country Upv/ehu; POLO, FRANCISCO - University Of The Basque Country Upv/ehu; ORDOVAS, JOSE - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University; ETXEZARRAGA, M. CARMEN - University Of The Basque Country Upv/ehu; ZABALZA, INAKI - University Of The Basque Country Upv/ehu; LARZABAL, MIKEL - Biodonostia Health Research Institute; PORTILLO, ISABEL - University Of The Basque Country Upv/ehu; M. DE PANCORBO, MARIAN - University Of Basque Country; PALENCIA-MADRID, LEIRE - University Of Basque Country; GARCIA-ETXEBARRIA, KOLDO - Biodonostia Health Research Institute; ROCANDIO, ANA M. - University Of Basque Country; ARROYO-IZAGA, MARTA - University Of Basque Country

Submitted to: Nutrients
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/31/2020
Publication Date: 8/7/2020
Citation: Alegria-Lertxundi, I., Aguirre, C., Bujanda, L., Fernandez, F.J., Polo, F., Ordovas, J.M., Etxezarraga, M., Zabalza, I., Larzabal, M., Portillo, I., M. de Pancorbo, M., Palencia-Madrid, L., Garcia-Etxebarria, K., Rocandio, A., Arroyo-Izaga, M. 2020. Gene-diet interactions in colorectal cancer: survey design, instruments, participants and descriptive data of a case-control study in the Basque country. Nutrients. 12(8):2362. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12082362.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12082362

Interpretive Summary: The relation between diet and cancer and the definition of diets that are suitable to prevent different types of cancer are unclear and vary among populations. Part of this variation is due to genetic factors that result in different responses to diet. In this study, investigators at the HNRCA in Boston, in collaboration with Spanish researchers analyzed dietary, genetic, demographic, socioeconomic factors and lifestyles in a sample of cases and controls from the population-based bowel cancer screening program of the Basque Country (North of Spain). The results presented suggest that overweight/obesity and a high intake of certain dietary components, especially saturated fatty acids and cholesterol, are more frequent in cases than in controls, providing valuable data for analyzing the complexity of gene-diet interaction in relation to colorectal cancer.

Technical Abstract: Epidemiologic studies have revealed inconsistent evidence of gene-diet interaction in relation to colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to analyze them in a sample of cases and controls from the population-based bowel cancer screening program of the Osakidetza/Basque Health Service. This study analyzed dietetic, genetic, demographic, socioeconomic factors and lifestyles. In the present manuscript, the survey design, sampling, instruments, measurements and related quality management were presented. Moreover, we analyze differences between cases and controls in some data, especially those related to diet. The participants were 308 cases and 308 age- and sex-matched subjects as controls. Cases were more likely than controls to have overweight/obesity (67.5% vs. 58.1%, p < 0.05), a lower intake of vitamin B2 (0.86 +/- 0.23 vs. 0.92 +/- 0.23 mg/1000 kcal, p < 0.01) and calcium:phosphorus ratio (0.62 +/- 0.12 vs. 0.65 +/- 0.13, p < 0.01). A higher proportion of cases than controls did not meet the Nutritional Objectives for saturated fatty acids (85.7% vs. 67.5%, p < 0.001) or cholesterol (35.4% vs. 25.0%, p < 0.01). In conclusion, the present study provides valuable data for analyzing the complexity of gene-diet interaction in relation to CRC. The results presented here suggest that overweight/obesity and a high intake of certain dietary components, especially saturated fatty acids and cholesterol, are more frequent in cases than in controls.