Rapid Communication
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 28, 2006; 12(8): 1261-1264
Published online Feb 28, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i8.1261
Hypertriglyceridemia is positively correlated with the development of colorectal tubular adenoma in Japanese men
Masafumi Tabuchi, Joji Kitayama, Hirokazu Nagawa
Masafumi Tabuchi, Nakameguro Gastrointestinal Clinic, Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Tokyo, Japan
Joji Kitayama, Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Tokyo, Japan
Hirokazu Nagawa, Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Tokyo, Japan
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture of Japan and by a Grant from the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan
Correspondence to: Joji Kitayama, Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo113-8655, Japan. kitayama-isu@h.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-3-38155411-33246 FAX: +81-3-38116822
Received: April 20, 2005
Revised: July 29, 2005
Accepted: August 26, 2005
Published online: February 28, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To determine the real association between serum lipid levels and colonic polyp formation.

METHODS: We performed a large scale retrospective study to analyze the correlation between the incidence of colorectal adenoma or carcinoma and the fasting serum levels of total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) in patients who underwent total colonoscopy for screening for colon cancer.

RESULTS: Both levels were significantly elevated in patients with adenomas as compared with patients without any neoplastic lesion (TC 207.6 ± 29.5 vs 199.5±34.3, n= 4883, P< 0.001; TG 135.0 ± 82.2 vs 108.7±71.5, n= 4874, P< 0.001). The difference was significant in patients with tubular adenoma but not in those with villous or serrated adenoma. Multiple logistic regression analysis including age and sex revealed that TG was an independent correlation factor in male (P < 0.01), but not in female patients. The level of TG in patients with invasive carcinoma did not show a significant elevation from that in patients with adenoma. These findings suggest that hypertriglyceridemia is an independent risk factor for colonic adenoma in men.

CONCLUSION: Although a high level of serum triglyceride does not appear to be mechanically involved in the development of carcinoma, reduction of serum TG and intensive surveillance with total colonoscopy may have benefit in men with hypertriglyceridemia.

Keywords: Triglyceride, Hyperlipidemi, Colorectal, Adenoma, Colonoscopy