Table 2

Postdiagnostic marine ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake and colorectal cancer-specific and all-cause mortality

<0.10 g/day0.10–0.19 g/day0.20–0.29 g/day≥0.30 g/dayp for trend*
Median intake (Interquartile range)0.06 (0.04 to 0.08)0.14 (0.12 to 0.16)0.24 (0.22 to 0.27)0.49 (0.36 to 0.80)
Person-years3782309424014294
Colorectal cancer-specific mortality
 Deaths (n=169)55472542
 Age-adjusted HR (95% CI)†1 (referent)0.99 (0.65 to 1.50)0.74 (0.44 to 1.24)0.65 (0.42 to 1.03)0.04
 Multivariable-adjusted HR (95% CI)‡1 (referent)0.98 (0.62 to 1.55)0.77 (0.44 to 1.37)0.59 (0.35 to 1.01)0.03
All-cause mortality
 Deaths (n=561)16413585177
 Age-adjusted HR (95% CI)†1 (referent)1.09 (0.86 to 1.39)0.93 (0.71 to 1.23)0.96 (0.77 to 1.21)0.51
 Multivariable-adjusted HR (95% CI)‡1 (referent)1.12 (0.87 to 1.45)0.90 (0.67 to 1.21)0.95 (0.73 to 1.25)0.47

  • *p for trend was calculated using median intake for each category of marine ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake.

  • †Cox proportional hazards regression model stratified by age groups at diagnosis (<60, 60–64, 65–69, 70–74 and ≥75 years), sex and cancer stage (I, II, III, IV and unspecified), with additional adjustment for age at diagnosis (continuous).

  • ‡Further adjusted for prediagnostic intake of marine ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (<0.10, 0.10–0.19, 0.20–0.29 and ≥0.3 g/day), grade of differentiation (1–3 and unspecified), subsite (proximal colon, distal colon, rectum and unspecified), pack-years of smoking (0, 1–15, 16–25, 26–45, >45), alcohol consumption (<0.15, 0.15–1.9, 2.0–7.4, ≥7.5 g/day), BMI (<23, 23–24.9, 25–27.4, 27.5–29.9, ≥30 kg/m2), physical activity (women: <5, 5–11.4, 11.5–21.9, ≥22 MET-hours/week; men: <7, 7–14.9, 15–24.9, ≥25 MET-hours/week), regular use of aspirin and NSAIDs (yes or no), postmenopausal hormone use (women only: never, current, past users) and intake of folate and vitamin D (in quartiles).

  • BMI, body mass index; MET, metabolic equivalent; NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.