Dietary folate, alcohol and B vitamins in relation to LINE-1 hypomethylation in colon cancer.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:

Although critical for methylation reactions, how dietary folate and B vitamins affect global DNA methylation level in colorectal cancers is currently unknown. Long interspersed nucleotide element-1 (LINE-1) is an emerging indicator of genome-wide DNA methylation level that has previously been linked to colon cancer survival.

METHODS:

We examined the association between dietary intake of folate, alcohol and B vitamins and LINE-1 hypomethylation in 609 incident colon cancers, utilising the database of two independent prospective cohort studies.

RESULTS:

Participants with > or = 400 microg folate intake per day were significantly less likely to develop LINE-1 hypomethylated colon cancers than those reporting <200 microg of folate intake per day (RR=0.57, 95% CI=0.36 to 0.91 for <55% LINE-1 methylated colon tumours; RR=0.74, 95% CI=0.51 to 1.06 for 55-64% LINE-1 methylated colon tumours; and RR=1.08, 95% CI=0.66 to 1.75 for > or = 65% LINE-1 methylated tumours; P(interaction)=0.01). By contrast, high alcohol consumption conferred a higher risk of LINE-1 hypomethylated cancers (> or = 15 g alcohol per day versus none, RR=1.67, 95% CI=1.04 to 2.67 for <55% LINE1 methylated tumours; and RR=1.55, 95% CI=1.10 to 2.18 for 55-64% LINE-1 methylated tumours) but had no association with > or = 65% LINE-1 methylated tumours (RR=1.06, 95% CI=0.69 to 1.62). High intakes of vitamin B(6), B(12) or methionine were not significantly associated with colon cancers, regardless of LINE-1 methylation level.

CONCLUSION:

The influence of dietary folate intake and alcohol consumption on colon cancer risk differs significantly according to tumoral LINE-1 methylation level.

• Authors: Eva S Schernhammer, Edward Giovannucci, Takako Kawasaki, Bernard Rosner, Charles S Fuchs, Shuji Ogino
• Journal: Gut (Gut) Vol. 59 Issue 6 Pg. 794-9 (Jun 2010) ISSN: 1468-3288 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19828464 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• DNA, Neoplasm
• Ethanol
• Vitamin B 6
• Folic Acid
• Vitamin B 12

Topics

• Alcohol Drinking (genetics)
• Colorectal Neoplasms (genetics, prevention & control)
• DNA Methylation (drug effects)
• DNA, Neoplasm (genetics)
• Diet (statistics & numerical data)
• Ethanol (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Female
• Folic Acid (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Humans
• Long Interspersed Nucleotide Elements (drug effects, genetics)
• Male
• Prospective Studies
• Vitamin B 12 (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Vitamin B 6 (administration & dosage, pharmacology)