Associations between potential causal factors and colorectal cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis of Mendelian randomization studies

Deng et al., 2022 | J Dig Dis | Meta Analysis

Citation

Deng Yunyang, Wang Lyu, ... Wong Martin Chi Sang. Associations between potential causal factors and colorectal cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis of Mendelian randomization studies. J Dig Dis. 2022-Aug;23(8-9):435-445. doi:10.1111/1751-2980.13130

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the associations between potential causal factors and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk based on existing Mendelian randomization studies. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis involved a literature search in Embase and Medline. All published articles using Mendelian randomization to explore potential causal factors of CRC were included. Studies that reported Mendelian randomization estimates of standard deviation changes in exposures were included in the meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses based on sex and anatomical sites were performed. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety studies presented in 51 articles were included in systematic review, and 114 studies conducted in 32 articles were included in the meta-analysis. Adult body mass index, waist circumference, waist hip ratio, body height, body fat percentage, arm fat ratio, childhood obesity, lifetime cigarette consumption, short sleep, coffee consumption, and blood levels of vitamin B12 , arachidonic acid, stearic acid, and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 were positively associated with CRC risk. Conversely, acceleration-vector-magnitude physical activity, milk consumption, and blood levels of adiponectin, linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, oleic acid, palmitoleic acid, interleukin-6 receptor subunit-α, and tumor necrosis factor were inversely associated with CRC risk. CONCLUSIONS: Most obesity-related anthropometric characteristics, several unhealthy lifestyles, and blood levels of some micronutrients, fatty acids, and diabetes-related biomarkers were positively associated with CRC risk. In contrast, some lifestyles and blood levels of some fatty acids and inflammatory biomarkers were inversely associated with CRC risk. Future studies with more valid genetic variants are needed for factors with discrepancies between Mendelian randomization and epidemiological studies.

Key Findings

One hundred and ninety studies presented in 51 articles were included in systematic review, and 114 studies conducted in 32 articles were included in the meta-analysis. Adult body mass index, waist circumference, waist hip ratio, body height, body fat percentage, arm fat ratio, childhood obesity, lifetime cigarette consumption, short sleep, coffee consumption, and blood levels of vitamin B12 , arachidonic acid, stearic acid, and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 were positively associ

Outcomes Measured

  • inflammatory markers

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 114
Age Range See abstract
Condition sleep

MeSH Terms

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Humans
  • Mendelian Randomization Analysis
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Colorectal Neoplasms
  • Pediatric Obesity
  • Risk Factors
  • Biomarkers
  • Fatty Acids
  • Genome-Wide Association Study

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review, Journal Article
  • Vertical: vitamin-b12

Provenance


Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09