The relation of dietary fiber intake to large bowel cancer mortality in Japan.

Abstract

The daily intakes of dietary fiber (DF) for the period from 1949 to 1984 were calculated according to national nutrition survey in Japan. The daily intake of DF had gradually decreased during the period from 1949 (17.9 g) to 1984 (14.2 g). The daily intake of cellulose, had slightly decreased during the period from 1949 (8.5 g) to 1970 (6.8 g) and its recent intake was 7.6 g. The daily intake of hemicellulose, which had decreased during the period from 1949 (5.7 g) to 1965 (4.0 g), was about 4.1 g after 1965. The daily intake of lignin, which showed a certain trend during the period from 1949 (3.7 g) to 1971 (3.8 g), suggested a remarkable decrease after 1972. The DF intakes of 12 individuals aged from 30 to 50 years were determined by duplicate collection of food consumed for three successive days. The individual intake of DF was varied from 6.6 g to 16.5 g per day. The average intake and standard deviation was 10.7±1.6 g. A correlation between DF consumption and the death rate of colon cancer from 1950 to 1984 was apparent (γ=-0.739, p<0.01). A negative correlation existed between the intake of hemicellulose and lignin and the death rate of colon cancer (γ=-0.689 and γ=-0.918). A correlation between DF consumption and the death rate of rectum cancer was highly significant (γ=-0.793, p<0.01). A negative correlation existed also between the intake of hemicellulose and lignin and the death rate of rectum cancer (γ=-0.786 and γ=-0.895).