The effects of a "low-risk" diet on tumor incidence in chemically induced colon cancer in rats.

Abstract

The relationship between various dietary constituents and colon cancer has been demonstrated by previous research. We conducted a study to investigate the combined effects of several dietary constituents on intestinal tumor incidence in azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon cancer in rats. A nutritionally adequate, "low-risk" (LR) diet was formulated through nonextreme dietary manipulations of dietary fat, fiber, protein, vitamins A and E, and selenium. Seventy-two female F344 weanling rats were given three weekly subcutaneous injections of either AOM or physiological saline solution, and were maintained on either the LR or a "high-risk" (HR) diet. Food consumption and body weights were monitored on a weekly basis throughout the study. Tumor incidence was determined 36 weeks following the first injection of AOM. The incidence of adenocarcinomas in the LR diet group was 4.2% compared with 29.2% in the HR diet group. There were no significant differences in the incidence of small intestinal tumors or in the incidence of benign polyps between the diet groups. The results of the study indicated a significant protective effect of the various chemopreventive dietary factors when combined in an LR diet for colon cancer.