Nutrient intake patterns in gastric and colorectal cancers.

The purpose of the study was to present the dietary risk pattern in gastric and colorectal cancers, using the same methodological approach in a parallel hospital-based case-control study. In all, 180 cases of colorectal cancer and 80 cases of stomach cancer, confirmed histopathologically, were enrolled from the University Hospital in Cracow. A high intake of carbohydrates was associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (OR = 2.45). For stomach cancer, a moderate consumption of carbohydrates markedly increased relative risk (OR = 4.29), while a high intake of carbohydrates increased the risk by 8.73. The patterns of dietary risk factors related to intake of fats were definitively different in both cancer sites. The higher fat consumption was not associated with the higher risk of stomach cancer. A medium intake of fats increased the risk of colorectal cancer by 1.96 and that above 83 g/day by 2.20. In colorectal cancer, the significant protective effect of retinol, carotene and vitamin C has been evidenced, however, only carotene and vitamin E were inversely correlated with stomach cancer.