Chocolate candy consumption increases risk of colorectal cancer, finds study

USA: A recent study revealed that consumption of chocolate candy at least 1.5 times/wk by postmenopausal women is associated with a modest 18% higher risk of colorectal cancer. But there was no significant association between chocolate candy intake and invasive total or breast cancer. The study is published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Animal and laboratory studies have shown chocolate consumption to be associated with a lower risk of cancer. However, there has been inconsistent evidence from epidemiological studies. Therefore, James A. Greenberg, University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, and colleagues assessed the association of chocolate candy consumption with the incident, invasive total, colorectal, breast, and lung cancers in a large cohort of postmenopausal American women.

For the purpose, the researchers undertook a prospective study with a mean 14.8-year follow-up. Postmenopausal women at 40 clinical centers nationwide, between 1993 and 1998, were registered in the Women's Health Initiative Study. A food frequency questionnaire was used to assess chocolate candy intake. 

114,281 women (from Women's Health Initiative Study) with plausible food-frequency or biometric data and no missing data on chocolate candy exposure were selected for the study.