Association between fruit and vegetable consumption and colorectal cancer risk: role of cigarette smoking.

Extract :

" In an article published in a recent issue of the Journal, van Duijinhoven et al (1) report that consumption of fruit and vegetables is inversely associated with the risk of colon cancer, especially colorectal cancer. The article, along with a number of other highly publicized articles, reports data obtained from the large-scale European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study. The current study examines the relation between self-reported usual consumption of fruit and vegetables and the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer in 452,755 subjects with an average follow-up of 8.8 y. The findings provide unambiguous evidence to support the well-recognized view that increased consumption of fruit and vegetables is associated with reduced cancer risk. Interestingly, the data obtained from this study also show that the association between fruit and vegetable consumption and colorectal cancer risk is inversely related in never and former smokers, but positively related in current smokers, and that the subjects who consumed more fruit and vegetables also have higher energy intake and physical activity levels, whereas their body weight and BMI are similar. These findings suggest that unhealthy dietary habits and lifestyle contribute to the increased colorectal cancer risk in smokers and that cigarette smoking plays a role in the decreased fruit and vegetable consumption and higher colorectal cancer risk observed. "