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Cited by 1,146Food composition and propertiesNutritional Studies and DietColorectal Cancer Screening and Detection

Dietary fibre, whole grains, and risk of colorectal cancer: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies

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Aune, D., Chan, D. S. M., Lau, R., Vieira, R., Greenwood, D. C., Kampman, E., Norat, T.·2011·BMJ
DOI 10.1136/bmj.d6617PMC PMC3213242
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between intake of dietary fibre and whole grains and risk of colorectal cancer. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective observational studies. DATA SOURCES: PubMed and several other databases up to December 2010 and the reference lists of studies included in the analysis as well as those listed in published meta-analyses. STUDY SELECTION: Prospective cohort and nested case-control studies of dietary fibre or whole grain intake and incidence of colorectal cancer. RESULTS: 25 prospective studies were included in the analysis. The summary relative risk of developing colorectal cancer for 10 g daily of total dietary fibre (16 studies) was 0.90 (95% confidence interval 0.86 to 0.94, I(2) = 0%), for fruit fibre (n = 9) was 0.93 (0.82 to 1.05, I(2) = 23%), for vegetable fibre (n = 9) was 0.98 (0.91 to 1.06, I(2) = 0%), for legume fibre (n = 4) was 0.62 (0.27 to 1.42, I(2) = 58%), and for cereal fibre (n = 8) was 0.90 (0.83 to 0.97, I(2) = 0%). The summary relative risk for an increment of three servings daily of whole grains (n = 6) was 0.83 (0.78 to 0.89, I(2) = 18%). CONCLUSION: A high intake of dietary fibre, in particular cereal fibre and whole grains, was associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer. Further studies should report more detailed results, including those for subtypes of fibre and be stratified by other risk factors to rule out residual confounding. Further assessment of the impact of measurement errors on the risk estimates is also warranted.

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Authors
Aune, D., Chan, D. S. M., Lau, R., Vieira, R., Greenwood, D. C., Kampman, E., & Norat, T.
Affiliations
  • Imperial College London (GB)
  • University of Leeds (GB)
  • Wageningen University & Research (NL)
Corresponding author
Aune, D.
ORCID
Venue
BMJ
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2011-11-10
Volume
343
Issue
nov10 1
Pages
d6617-d6617
ISSN
  • 0007-1447 (ISSN-L)
  • 0959-8138
  • 1468-5833
DOI
10.1136/bmj.d6617
PMC
PMC3213242
OpenAlex
W2167496295
Cited by
1,146
References
6
Citations by year
2026: 60 · 2025: 57 · 2024: 69 · 2023: 72 · 2022: 76 · 2021: 74 · 2020: 112 · 2019: 98 · 2018: 99 · 2017: 73 · 2016: 102 · 2015: 82 · 2014: 77 · 2013: 54 · 2012: 36
FWCI
6.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc
Locations
  • BMJ (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (acceptedVersion)
  • Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (acceptedVersion)
  • Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Food composition and properties
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Colorectal Cancer Screening and Detection
Keywords
dietary fiber, whole grains, colorectal cancer, cancer risk, cereal fiber, vegetable fibres, dose-response relationship, protective diet
MeSH terms
Edible Grain, Dietary Fiber, Feeding Behavior, Humans, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Colorectal Neoplasms, Incidence, Case-Control Studies

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