Increased Risk of Colorectal Cancer Due to Interactions Between Meat Consumption and the CD36 Gene A52C Polymorphism Among Japanese

Abstract

Abstract: A previous study showed expression of CD36, recently reported to play important roles in metabolism of oxidized low-density lipoprotein and long-chain fatty acids and to be positively correlated with colon cancer prognosis. To examine relationships between colorectal cancer and the CD36 gene A52C polymorphism according to meat consumption as a surrogate for saturated fatty acid intake, we conducted the present hospital-based, case-control study of 128 cases and 238 non-cancer controls. Consumption of meat and vegetables/fruit was divided into three (low, moderate, and high) and two (low and high) groups, respectively. Regarding the risk of colorectal cancer on cross-classifying subjects for the CD36 genotype and meat consumption, the odds ratio (OR) for the C/C genotype with moderate meat consumption relative to the A/A genotype with low meat consumption was 8.30 (95% confidence interval, CI = 2.15–32.00). None of individuals with the C/C genotype was in the high meat consumption group. In the low vegetables/fruit consumption group, the OR for the C/C genotype relative to the A/A genotype was 3.03 (95% CI = 1.12–7.90). Our findings suggest that interactions between moderate-high meat consumption and the CD36 gene A52C polymorphism may increase the risk of colorectal cancer.