Korean J Med.  2004 Nov;67(5):475-479.

The association between plasma homocysteine concentration and the risk of rectosigmoid adenoma in heavy alcohol drinkers

• Lim YJ
• Choi YH
• Kim YH
• Lee JH
• Jung OS
• Son HJ
• Paik SW
• Jun HK
• Yoo BC
• Rhee JC

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Folate deficiency may predispose to the initiation of colorectal cancer. Moderate to high alcohol consumption may lead to cellular folate deficiency. We studied to know whether the development of rectosigmoid adenoma is associated with plasma homocysteine concentration in the heavy alcohol drinkers.
METHODS
Heavy alcohol drinkers (n=533) among apparently healthy men who participated in a periodic health examination program were investigated retrospectively. All subjects in this study underwent sigmoidoscopy and measurement of plasma homocysteine concentration. Adjustment in these analyses were made for age as well as for other diseases such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver and hypertension, family history, drug history, obesity (body mass index), and cigarette smoking.
RESULTS
Subjects with high homocysteine concentration and old age were more likely to have rectosigmoid adenomas than low homocysteine level and young age respectively. An increase in 1microgram/L of homocysteine concentration resulted in the increased relative risk of 1.070 (95 percent CI, 1.009 -1.136). There was no significant association between the risk of adenoma and other variables such as cigarette smoking, obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver, hypertension, family history and drug history.
CONCLUSION
High plasma homocysteine concentration was associated with the increased risk of rectosigmoid adenoma in heavy alcohol drinkers.

Keyword

Homocysteine; Alcohol; Adenoma

MeSH Terms

Adenoma*
Alcohol Drinking
Colorectal Neoplasms
Fatty Liver
Folic Acid
Homocysteine*
Humans
Hyperlipidemias
Hypertension
Male
Obesity
Plasma*
Retrospective Studies
Sigmoidoscopy
Smoking
Folic Acid
Homocysteine