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Adiposity in relation to colorectal adenomas and hyperplastic polyps in women

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Abstract

Objective

To examine whether BMI is independently related to colorectal adenomas and hyperplastic polyps.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study among 1,420 asymptomatic women aged 40–79 years who had undergone complete colonoscopy. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) of adenomas and hyperplastic polyps.

Results

We identified 953 women (67.1%) with no polyps, 292 (20.6%) with adenomas, and 175 (12.3%) with hyperplastic polyps. Among those with polyps, 75 women (5.3% of total women) were classified as having both adenomas and hyperplastic polyps. After adjusting for potential risk factors for colorectal cancer, BMI was related to increased risk of adenomas (OR comparing obese to normal weight women = 1.57; 95% CI = 1.07–2.29). Further, BMI was associated with enhanced risk of hyperplastic polyps (OR = 3.76; 95% CI = 2.35–6.01) and the combination of adenomas and hyperplastic polyps (OR = 2.84; 95% CI = 1.41–5.72).

Conclusions

Excess body mass is positively related to colorectal adenomas and hyperplastic polyps, particularly when both kinds of polyps are present in combination. Future studies should continue to delineate the possible differences in potential risk factors between colorectal adenomas and hyperplastic polyps. Such work should help further elucidate the possible causes of colorectal cancer.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support: This research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH, National Cancer Institute.

Conflict of interest

All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Nutritional Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, 6120 Executive Blvd., Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA

    Michael F. Leitzmann, Leah M. Ferrucci, Arthur Schatzkin & Amanda J. Cross

  2. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Regensburg University Medical Center, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany

    Michael F. Leitzmann

  3. The Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Leah M. Ferrucci

  4. The Division of Gastroenterology, University of Michigan School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs Center for Excellence in Health Services Research, 2215 Fuller Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA

    Philip Schoenfeld

  5. The Division of Gastroenterology, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue B, Bethesda, MD, 20889, USA

    Philip Schoenfeld & Brooks Cash

  6. The Division of Epidemiology and Community Health and Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, 1300 South Second Street Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA

    Andrew Flood

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  1. Michael F. Leitzmann
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Correspondence to Michael F. Leitzmann.

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Leitzmann, M.F., Flood, A., Ferrucci, L.M. et al. Adiposity in relation to colorectal adenomas and hyperplastic polyps in women. Cancer Causes Control 20, 1497–1507 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-009-9346-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-009-9346-7

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