High serum riboflavin is associated with the risk of sporadic colorectal cancer. (April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ma, Yanhui; Huangfu, Yuchan; Deng, Lin; Wang, Ping; Shen, Lisong; Zhou, Yunlan
• Is Part Of: Cancer epidemiology. Volume 83(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-04
• Subjects: Circulating riboflavin -- Vitamin B2 -- Sporadic colorectal cancer -- Risk factor -- Nutrition; Cancer -- Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Diagnosis -- Periodicals; Carcinogenesis -- Periodicals; 616.994005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2023.102342
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1877-7821

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Experimental results indicate that riboflavin is involved in tumorigenesis. Data regarding the relationship between riboflavin and colorectal cancer (CRC) are limited, and findings vary between observational studies. Design: This was a case–control retrospective study. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the associations between serum riboflavin level and sporadic CRC risk. Methods: In total, 389 participants were enrolled in this study – including 83 CRC patients without family history and 306 healthy controls – between January 2020 and March 2021 at the Department of Colorectal Surgery and Endoscope Center at Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Age, sex, body mass index, history of polyps, disease conditions (e.g., diabetes), medications, and eight other vitamins were used as confounding factors. Adjusted smoothing spline plots, subgroup analysis, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted to estimate the relative risk between serum riboflavin levels and sporadic CRC risk. After fully adjusting for the confounding factors, an increased risk of colorectal cancer was suggested for individuals with higher levels of serum riboflavin (OR = 1.08 (1.01, 1.15), p = 0.03) in a dose–response relationship. Conclusions: Our results support the hypothesis that higher levels of riboflavin may play a role in facilitating colorectal carcinogenesis. The finding of high levels of circulating riboflavin in patients with CRC warrants further investigation. Highlights: The relationship between riboflavin and CRC remains poorly understood and controversial. Elevated circulating riboflavin levels are associated with CRC risk. Riboflavin can be a potential biomarker and a therapeutic target for CRC.