Table 4 Adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of colon and rectal cancers by quartile levels of plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and desaturase indices in n-6 PUFA) synthesis pathway, The Singapore Chinese Health Studya

From: Plasma fatty acids and risk of colon and rectal cancers in the Singapore Chinese Health Study

 

1st (low)

2nd

3rd

4th (high)

P trend

Colon cancer

n-3 PUFAs

     

 α-Linolenic acid (18:3)

1.00 (Referent)

0.56 (0.32–1.00)

0.64 (0.37–1.11)

0.41 (0.23–0.73)

0.005

 Eicosapentanoic acid (20:5)

1.00 (Referent)

1.06 (0.60–1.86)

1.18 (0.69–2.02)

0.93 (0.54–1.62)

0.931

 Docosahexaenoic acid (22:6)

1.00 (Referent)

1.47 (0.83–2.62)

1.32 (0.74–2.34)

1.11 (0.59–2.07)

0.855

n-6 PUFAs

     

 Linoleic acid (18:2) (LA)

1.00 (Referent)

0.63 (0.35–1.13)

0.52 (0.29–0.93)

0.43 (0.23–0.82)

0.008

 γ-Linolenic acid (18:3) (GLA)

1.00 (Referent)

0.62 (0.33–1.15)

0.68 (0.36–1.27)

0.54 (0.30–1.00)

0.085

 Dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (20:3) (DGLA)

1.00 (Referent)

0.81 (0.45–1.43)

0.80 (0.44–1.46)

0.54 (0.29–1.00)

0.060

 Arachidonic acid (20:4) (AA)

1.00 (Referent)

1.36 (0.78–2.37)

2.18 (1.16–4.08)

1.52 (0.82–2.81)

0.111

n-6 PUFA desaturase indices (DI)

     

 GLA:LA ratio (for Δ6 DI)

1.00 (Referent)

1.09 (0.60–1.98)

1.19 (0.66–2.13)

0.61 (0.33–1.10)

0.140

 AA:DGLA ratio (for Δ5 DI)

1.00 (Referent)

1.28 (0.70–2.31)

2.77 (1.53–5.03)

2.51 (1.39–4.53)

<0.001

 AA:LA ratio (for total n-6 PUFA DI)

1.00 (Referent)

2.90 (1.52–5.55)

1.28 (0.69–2.37)

3.53 (1.82–6.85)

0.006

Rectal cancer

n-3 PUFAs

     

 α-Linolenic acid (18:3)

1.00 (Referent)

1.00 (0.50–2.03)

1.38 (0.66–2.91)

1.70 (0.84–3.43)

0.087

 Eicosapentanoic acid (20:5)

1.00 (Referent)

1.07 (0.52–2.20)

0.64 (0.31–.35)

0.89 (0.42–1.91)

0.516

 Docosahexaenoic acid (22:6)

1.00 (Referent)

0.79 (0.38–1.66)

0.63 (0.30–1.31)

0.72 (0.32–1.66)

0.349

n-6 PUFAs

     

 LA (18:2)

1.00 (Referent)

0.88 (0.44–1.75)

1.64 (0.78–3.44)

1.15 (0.51–2.58)

0.394

 GLA (18:3)

1.00 (Referent)

1.43 (0.65–3.14)

1.43 (0.72–2.84)

1.59 (0.75–3.34)

0.232

 DGLA (20:3)

1.00 (Referent)

0.76 (0.39–1.51)

0.94 (0.44–2.01)

2.36 (1.02–5.44)

0.068

 AA (20:4)

1.00 (Referent)

0.86 (0.40–1.82)

1.93 (0.86–4.31)

1.44 (0.63–3.27)

0.200

n-6 PUFA DIs

     

 GLA:LA ratio (for Δ6 DI)

1.00 (Referent)

1.14 (0.56–2.31)

1.05 (0.54–2.03)

1.47 (0.65–3.34)

0.476

 AA:DGLA ratio (for Δ5 DI)

1.00 (Referent)

0.66 (0.31–1.37)

0.56 (0.26–1.21)

0.68 (0.33–1.42)

0.366

 AA:LA ratio (for total n-6 PUFA DI)

1.00 (Referent)

1.24 (0.57–2.72)

1.98 (0.88–4.46)

1.08 (0.50–2.32)

0.711

  1. a Odds ratios are adjusted for body mass index (<20, 20–24, 24–28, ≥28 kg/m2), smoking (never, light, heavy), education level (none, primary, ≥secondary), alcohol use (none, <7, ≥7 drinks/week), weekly physical activity (yes, no), history of diabetes (yes, no), and use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (yes, no)
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