Gastroenterology
Volume 122, Issue 7 , Pages 1784-1792, June 2002

Diet and colorectal cancer: An investigation of the lectin/galactose hypothesis☆☆☆

  • Richard C. Evans

      Affiliations

    • Departments of Medicine and Public Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool
    • ,
  • Simon Fear

      Affiliations

    • Roy Castle International Centre for Lung Cancer Research, Liverpool
    • ,
  • Deborah Ashby

      Affiliations

    • Departments of Medicine and Public Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool
    • ,
  • Alan Hackett

      Affiliations

    • Department of Nutrition, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, England
    • ,
  • Evelyn Williams

      Affiliations

    • Departments of Medicine and Public Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool
    • ,
  • Martine van der Vliet

      Affiliations

    • Departments of Medicine and Public Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool
    • ,
  • Frank D.J. Dunstan

      Affiliations

    • Department of Epidemiology, Statistics and Public Health, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, Wales
    • ,
  • Jonathan M. Rhodes

      Affiliations

    • Departments of Medicine and Public Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool

Received 21 February 2001; accepted 31 January 2002.

Abstract 

Background & Aims: Mucosal expression of terminal unsubstituted galactose is increased in colon cancer and precancer and allows interaction with mitogenic galactose-binding lectins of dietary or microbial origin. This study tests the hypothesis that galactose, which is variably plentiful in fruit and vegetable but not cereal fibers, might prevent cancer by binding and inhibiting such lectins. Methods: Colorectal cancer cases (512) and controls (512) were matched for age, sex, primary care practitioner, and postal code. A 160-item food-frequency questionnaire was used to estimate their usual pre-illness (6 months previous) diet, aspirin intake, and exercise. Results: Neither cereal fiber nor fruit and vegetable fiber were protective when assessed by univariate analysis, whereas dietary fiber galactose content showed a dose-related protective effect (odds ratio [OR] highest quartile/lowest quartile, 0.67; confidence interval [CI], 0.47–0.95) that remained protective when adjusted for energy, red meat, alcohol, calcium, protein and fat intake, regular aspirin usage, and exercise. Intake of nonlegume green vegetables, assessed because of the high lectin content of legumes, was also protective (OR, 0.54; CI, 0.35–0.81), but this was not independent of galactose. Protective effects of exercise and regular daily aspirin consumption and harmful effects of high energy consumption and high red meat intake were confirmed. Conclusions: The protective effect of fruit and vegetable fibers may be related to their galactose content. This provides further evidence that the association between diet and colon cancer is mediated via specific food components and may explain the discrepant results of studies addressing the protective effects of fiber.

GASTROENTEROLOGY 2002;122:1784-1792

Abbreviations:  95% CI , 95% confidence interval, FFQ , food frequency questionnaire, NSP , nonstarch polysaccharides, OR , odds ratio, TF , Thomsen Friedenreich

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☆ Address requests for reprints to: Professor Jonathan Rhodes, Department of Medicine, University of Liverpool, Duncan Building, Daulby Street, Liverpool L69 3 GA, England. e-mail: rhodesjm@liverpool.ac.uk; fax: (44) 151-706-5802.

☆☆ Supported by grant NWCR311, “Dietary consumption of peanuts, galactose-containing fruit and vegetable fibre and risk of colorectal cancer: a case control study,” from the North West of England Cancer Research Fund and by Medical Research Council Co-operative grant GR990432.

PII: S0016-5085(02)00012-4

Gastroenterology
Volume 122, Issue 7 , Pages 1784-1792, June 2002

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