Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Association of plasma vitamin B6 with risk of colorectal adenoma in a multiethnic case–control study

  • Brief report
  • Published:
Cancer Causes & Control Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Circulating level of vitamin B6 has been inversely associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk but, unlike for folate, few studies have examined the relationship of vitamin B6 to colorectal adenoma, the precursor lesion to most CRCs. We measured plasma levels of folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 in 241 patients with pathologically confirmed first occurrence of colorectal adenoma and 280 controls among Caucasians, Japanese Americans, and Native Hawaiians undergoing flexible sigmoidoscopy screening in Hawaii. High plasma level of vitamin B6 was independently inversely associated with risk of colorectal adenoma [multivariate odds ratios (95% confidence intervals): 1.0, 0.71 (0.45–1.13) and 0.44 (0.26–0.74) from the lowest to the highest tertile, respectively, p trend = 0.002]. Plasma folate was not associated with adenoma after adjustment for plasma vitamin B6 (p trend > 0.3). No association was observed with plasma vitamin B12. No significant interaction was detected between the three B vitamins and alcohol intake, multivitamin use or MTHFR C677T. The results provide evidence for an inverse association of plasma vitamin B6 levels with risk of colorectal adenoma. This study expands previous findings and suggests that vitamin B6 may be protective against the early stages of colorectal carcinogenesis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Kim Y-I (2007) Folate and colorectal cancer: an evidence-based critical review. Mol Nutr Food Res 51:267–292

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Figueiredo JC, Levine JA, Grau MV et al (2008) Vitamins B2, B6 and B12 and risk of colorectal adenomas in a randomized trial of aspirin use and folic acid supplementation. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 17:2136–2145

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Wei EK, Giovannucci E, Selhub J, Fuchs CS, Hankinson SE, Ma J (2005) Plasma vitamin B6 and the risk of colorectal cancer and adenoma in women. J Natl Cancer Inst 97:684–692

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Theodoratou E, Farrington SM, Tenesa A et al (2008) Dietary vitamin B6 intake and risk of colorectal cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 17:171–182

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Weinstein SJ, Albanes D, Selhub J et al (2008) One-carbon metabolism biomarkers and risk of colon and rectal cancers. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 17:3233–3240

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Lee JE, Li H, Giovannucci E et al (2009) Prospective study of plasma vitamin B6 and risk of colorectal cancer in men. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 18:1197–1202

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Le Marchand L, White KK, Nomura AMY et al (2009) Plasma levels of B vitamins and colorectal cancer risk: The Multiethnic Cohort Study. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 18:2195–2201

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Larsson SC, Orsini N, Wolk A (2010) Vitamin B6 and risk of colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis of prospective studies. JAMA 303(11):1077–1083

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Martinez ME, Henning SM, Alberts DS (2004) Folate and colorectal neoplasia: relation between plasma and dietary markers of folate and adenoma recurrence. Am J Clin Nutr 79:691–697

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ognjanovic S, Yamamoto J, Saltzman B et al (2010) Serum CRP and IL-6, genetic variants and risk of colorectal adenoma in a multiethnic population. Cancer Causes Control 21(7):1131–1138

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Hankin JH, Wilkens LR, Kolonel LN, Yoshizawa CN (1991) Validation of a quantitative diet history method in Hawaii. Am J Epidemiol 133:616–628

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Shin-Buehring Y, Rasshofer R, Edres W (1981) A new enzymatic method for pyridoxal-5′-phosphate determination. J Inherit Metabol Disorders 4:123–124

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Hastie T, Tibshirani RJ, Friedman JH (2003) The elements of statistical learning: data mining. Springer-Verlag, inference, and prediction. New York

    Google Scholar 

  14. Matsubara K, Komatsu S, Oka T, Kato N (2003) Vitamin B6-mediated suppression of colon tumorigenesis, cell proliferation, and angiogenesis. J Nutr Biochem 14:246–250

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Morris MS, Sakakeeny L, Jacques PF, Piccinao MF, Selhub J (2010) Vitamin B-6 intake is inversely related to, and the requirement is affected by, inflammation status. J Nutr 140(1):103–110

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Komatsu S, Watanabe H, Oka T, Tsuge H, Kat N (2002) Dietary vitamin B6 suppresses colon tumorigenesis, 8-hydroxyguanosine, 4-hydroxynonenal, and inducible nitric oxide synthase protein in azoxymethane-treated mice. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol 48:65–68

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Moshfegh A, Goldman J, Cleveland L (2005) What We Eat in America, NHANES 2001–2002: Usual Nutrient Intakes from Food Compared to Dietary Reference Intakes. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville MD

    Google Scholar 

  18. Cole BF, Baron JA, Sandler RS et al (2007) Folic acid for the prevention of colorectal adenomas: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA 297:2351–2359

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Logan RF, Grainge MJ, Sheperd VC, Armitage NC, Muir KR, ukCAP Trial Group (2008) Aspirin and folic acid for the prevention of recurrent colorectal adenomas. Gastroenterology 134:29–38

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Wu K, Platz EA, Willett WC et al (2009) A randomized trial on folic acid supplementation and risk of recurrent colorectal adenoma. Am J Clin Nutr 90:1623–1631

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Giovannucci E (2002) Epidemiologic studies of folate and colorectal neoplasia. J Nutr 132:2350S–2355S

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Baron JA, Sandler RS, Haile RW, Mandel JS, Mott LA, Greenberg ER (1998) Folate intake, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and risk of colorectal adenomas. J Natl Cancer Inst 90:57–62

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Breuer-Katschminski B, Nemes K, Marr A, Colorectal Adenoma Study Group et al (2001) Colorectal adenomas and diet: a case–control study. Dig Dis 46:86–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Bird CL, Swendseid ME, Witte JS et al (1995) Red cell and plasma folate, folate consumption, and the risk of colorectal adenomatous polyps. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 4:709–714

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Whelan RL, Horwarth KD, Gleason NR et al (1999) Vitamin and calcium supplement use is associated with decreased adenoma recurrence in patients with a previous history of neoplasia. Dis Colon Rectum 42:212–217

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Sanjoaquin MA, Allen N, Couto E, Roddam AW, Key TJ (2005) Folate intake and colorectal cancer risk: a meta-analytical approach. Int J Cancer 113(5):825–828

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Kato I, Dnistrian AM, Schwartz M et al (1999) Serum folate, homocysteine and colorectal cancer risk in women: a nested case–control study. Br J Cancer 79:1917–1921

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Glynn SA, Albanes D, Pietinen P et al (1996) Colorectal cancer and folate status: a nested case–control study among smokers. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 5:487–494

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Van Guelpen B, Hultdin J, Johansson I et al (2006) Low folate levels may protect against colorectal cancer. Gut 55:1461–1466

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Le Marchand L, Wilkens LR, Kolonel LN, Henderson BE (2005) The MTHFR C677T polymorphism and colorectal cancer: the Multiethnic Cohort study. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 14:1198–1203

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Chen J, Giovannucci E, Kelsey K et al (1996) A methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism and the risk of colorectal cancer. Cancer Res 56:4862–4864

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Ma J, Stampfer MJ, Giovannucci E et al (1997) Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism, dietary interactions and risk of colorectal cancer. Cancer Res 57:1098–1102

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Rossi E, Beilby JP, McQuillan BM, Hung J (1999) Biological variability and reference intervals for total plasma homocysteine. Ann Clin Biochem 36(Pt 1):56–61

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. McKinley MC, Strain JJ, McPartlin J, Scott JM, McNulty H (2001) Plasma homocysteine is not subject to seasonal variation. Clin Chem 47:1430–1436

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Barbara Saltzman and Jean Sato for coordinating the data collection and Maj Earle and Anne Tome for help with data management. Grant support: National Cancer Institute grant R01 CA72520.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Epidemiology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, 1236 Lauhala Street, Suite 407, Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA

    Loïc Le Marchand & Hansong Wang

  2. Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA

    Jacob Selhub

  3. Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA

    Thomas M. Vogt & Robert Decker

  4. Pacific Health Research Institute, Honolulu, HI, USA

    Lance Yokochi

Authors
  1. Loïc Le Marchand
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hansong Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jacob Selhub
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Thomas M. Vogt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Lance Yokochi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Robert Decker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Loïc Le Marchand.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOC 54 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Le Marchand, L., Wang, H., Selhub, J. et al. Association of plasma vitamin B6 with risk of colorectal adenoma in a multiethnic case–control study. Cancer Causes Control 22, 929–936 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-011-9759-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-011-9759-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation