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High BMI may increase risk for colon adenomas
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An increased BMI may increase a person’s risk for colon adenomas, according to recent results.
Researchers conducted a meta-analysis in which they examined data from 29,860 patients with colorectal adenomas to determine the relationship between BMI and the risk of developing adenomas. They also wanted to determine whether the relationship is affected by other factors, including gender, ethnicity or the type of adenoma.
Researchers observed a 19% increase in risk for colorectal adenomas associated with a 5-unit increase in BMI (summary RR=1.19; 95% CI, 1.13-1.26). No statistically significant differences were found between the standardized risk ratio for males and females (P=.249), between white and East-Asian patients (P=.126) or between patients’ countries of origin (P=.772 for Europe vs. US; P=.304 for Asia vs. US).
The increased risk also was significantly associated with both non-advanced (SRR=1.36; 95% CI, 1.17-1.58 across six studies) and advanced adenomas (SRR=1.70; 95% CI, 1.12-2.58 across nine studies).
However, although the association between BMI and colon adenoma was found to be statistically significant (SRR=1.17; 95% CI, 1.06-1.28), the association between BMI and rectal adenoma was not (SRR=0.85; 95% CI, 0.74-0.99; P<.001).
“This meta-analysis supports the hypothesis that excess body weight can significantly increase colorectal adenoma risk,” the researchers wrote. “In future research, randomized controlled trials are needed to examine the effect of weight reduction in obese populations on the risk of colorectal adenomas.”
References:
- Ben Q. Gastroenterology. 2012;142:762-772.