This study assesses the association between dietary transfatty
acid (TFA) intake and the risk of selected
cancers. Mailed questionnaires were completed between 1994 and 1997 in eight Canadian provinces by 1182 incident, histologically confirmed cases of the stomach, 1727 of the colon, 1447 of the rectum, 628 of the pancreas, 3341 of the lung, 2362 of the breast, 442 of the ovary, 1799 of the prostate, 686 of the testis, 1345 of the kidney, 1029 of the bladder, 1009 of the brain, 1666 non-Hodgkin's
lymphomas, 1069
leukemias, and 5039 population controls. Information on dietary habits and nutrition intake was obtained using a food frequency questionnaire, which provided data on eating habits 2 years before the study. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidenc530e intervals (CI) were derived by unconditional logistic regression to adjust for total energy intake and other potential confounding factors. Dietary TFA were positively associated with the risk of
cancers of the colon (OR: 1.38 for the highest vs. the lowest quartile), breast in premenopause (OR: 1.60), and prostate (OR: 1.42). There were a borderline association for
pancreas cancer (OR: 1.38; P=0.06). No significant association was observed for
cancers of the stomach, rectum, lung, ovary, testis, kidney, bladder, brain, non-Hodgkin's
lymphomas, and
leukemia, although the
ORs for the highest quartile were above unity for all
neoplasms considered, except testis. Our findings add evidence that high TFA is associated with an increased risk of various
cancers. Thus, a diet low in transfat may play a role in the prevention of several
cancers.