High fasting blood sugar increases colorectal cancer risk in non-diabetic people: Study
China: A recent study has pointed out a linear association between fasting blood glucose (FBG) and colorectal risk as FBG was positively associated with CRC risk in the population without self-reported diabetes mellitus and colorectal polyps' history
Further researchers found that when fasting blood glucose (FBG) was over rather than less than 126 mg/dL, fasting blood glucose (FBG) increasing per mmol/L was 1.27 times higher risk of developing colorectal cancer.
The study has been published in the journal Medicine.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent diagnosed tumor worldwide and is the second leading cause of cancer-associated deaths. The cancer accounts for above 1.8 million new cases and 881,000 deaths in 2018. Therefore, identifying the CRC-related risk factors is an important way to increase CRC screening efficiency and reduce cancer-related deaths.
Diabetes has been regarded as an independent risk factor. The underlying mechanisms involved in diabetes-related cancer correlates to long-term hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. Previous observational studies have shown positive relation between positive relationship diabetes and CRC risk. Moreover, compared with non-diabetics, diabetics are at an approximately 20%–40% increased risk of developing CRC.
However, the association between FBG and CRC risk in people without self-reported diabetes and colorectal polyps' history is not certain. To deal with the issue, Yan Zhang, Fuzong Clinical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, PR China, and colleagues performed a secondary analysis to directly evaluate the dose-response relationship between FBG and CRC risk in the people without self-reported diabetes and a history of colorectal ployps.
The researchers identified a total of 11,632 patients without self-reported diabetes mellitus and colorectal polyps' history in the Korean Multicenter Cancer Cohort (1993–2005).
Based on the study, the researchers found the following:
- 1.1% (n = 132) of participants were diagnosed with CRC in the follow-up duration.
- With a median follow-up duration of 12.0 years, participants with FBG ≥126 mg/dL were associated with higher CRC risk (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.67).
- Landmark analyses limited to long-term survivors demonstrated increased CRC risk with FBG ≥ 126 mg/dL in all subsets (≥3years: HR,1.93; ≥5years: HR, 2.04; ≥10years: HR, 2.50).
- With FBG smoothly increasing before, the latter increased dramatically after the turning point.
- When FBG was increasing per mmol/L, HR was 1.07 for FBG < 126 mg/dL and 1.27 for FBG ≥ 126 mg/dL. Besides, HR was 1.09 for the CRC risk.
The researchers conclude, "in the population without self-reported diabetes mellitus and colorectal polyps' history. FBG was linearly associated with CRC risk, especially for FBG over 126 mg/dL."
Reference:
The study titled, "Fasting blood glucose was linearly associated with colorectal cancer risk in the population without self-reported diabetes mellitus history," is published in the journal Medicine.
