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Cancer Causes & Control
Published in: Cancer Causes & Control 4/2013

01-04-2013 | Review article

Red and processed meat intake and risk of colorectal adenomas: a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies

Authors: Dagfinn Aune, Doris S. M. Chan, Ana Rita Vieira, Deborah A. Navarro Rosenblatt, Rui Vieira, Darren C. Greenwood, Ellen Kampman, Teresa Norat

Published in: Cancer Causes & Control | Issue 4/2013

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Abstract

Background

Current evidence indicates that red and processed meat intake increases the risk of colorectal cancer; however, the association with colorectal adenomas is unclear.

Objective

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies of red and processed meat intake and risk of colorectal adenomas as part of the Continuous Update Project of the World Cancer Research Fund.

Design

PubMed and several other databases were searched for relevant studies from their inception up to 31 December 2011. Summary relative risks (RRs) were estimated using a random effects model.

Results

Nineteen case–control studies and seven prospective studies were included in the analyses. The summary RR per 100 g/day of red meat was 1.27 (95 % CI 1.16–1.40, I 2 = 5 %, n = 16) for all studies combined, 1.20 (95 % CI 1.06–1.36, I 2 = 0 %, n = 6) for prospective studies, and 1.34 (95 % CI 1.12–1.59, I 2 = 31 %, n = 10) for case–control studies. The summary RR per 50 g/day of processed meat intake was 1.29 (95 % CI 1.10–1.53, I 2 = 27 %, n = 10) for all studies combined, 1.45 (95 % CI 1.10–1.90, I 2 = 0 %, n = 2) for prospective studies, and 1.23 (95 % CI 0.99–1.52, I 2 = 37 %, n = 8) for case–control studies. There was evidence of a nonlinear association between red meat (p nonlinearity < 0.001) and processed meat (p nonlinearity = 0.01) intake and colorectal adenoma risk.

Conclusion

These results indicate an elevated risk of colorectal adenomas with intake of red and processed meat, but further prospective studies are warranted.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Red and processed meat intake and risk of colorectal adenomas: a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies
Authors
Dagfinn Aune
Doris S. M. Chan
Ana Rita Vieira
Deborah A. Navarro Rosenblatt
Rui Vieira
Darren C. Greenwood
Ellen Kampman
Teresa Norat
Publication date
01-04-2013
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
Cancer Causes & Control / Issue 4/2013
Print ISSN: 0957-5243
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7225
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-012-0139-z

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