Skip to main content
Log in

The Burden of Colorectal Cancer Attributable to Diet Low in Fiber from 1990 to 2019: A Global, Regional and National Analysis

  • Original Research
  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objectives

The colorectal cancer (CRC) burden is increasingly high. The aim of this study was to investigate temporal and geographical trends in CRC deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) attributable to diet low in fiber globally from 1990 to 2019.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

The study based on the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2019.

Participants

The population comprised individuals from 204 countries and territories who were diagnosed with CRC attributable to diet low in fiber from 1990 to 2019.

Measurements

Deaths, DALYs, age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR), and age-standardized DALY rates (ASDR) for CRC attributable to diet low in fiber were described, and estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was further calculated to assess the burden in different regions, countries, sexes, and age groups. Additionally, we explored the association between EAPC and ASMR/ASDR (in 1990) and Human Development Index (HDI, in 2019).

Results

From 1990 to 2019, global ASMR and ASDR for CRC attributable to diet low in fiber decreased slightly, but the corresponding deaths and DALYs increased by 63.37% and 51.36%, respectively. Those burden varied considerably between regions and countries. The burden was higher in high, high-middle and middle SDI regions, especially in Asia and Western Europe, but when HDI > 0.7, an increasingly rapid decline in ASMR and ASDR was revealed. Unexpectedly, many less well-developed countries within the traditionally low deaths and DALYs regions of Africa, Central Latin America, and Middle East showed gradual increases in ASMR and ASDR.

Conclusion

The global burden of CRC attributable to diet low in fiber has decreased over the last 30 years, but remains at a high level. It is essential for decision-makers to take targeted measures for improving population awareness and intake of dietary fiber.

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

Access this article

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Laversanne M, Soerjomataram I, Jemal A, Bray F. Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries. CA Cancer J Clin 2021;71:209–249. doi: https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21660.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Keum N, Giovannucci E. Global burden of colorectal cancer: emerging trends, risk factors and prevention strategies. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019;16:713–732. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-019-0189-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Arnold M, Sierra MS, Laversanne M, Soerjomataram I, Jemal A, Bray F. Global patterns and trends in colorectal cancer incidence and mortality. Gut 2017;66:683–691. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2015-310912.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Ciardiello F, Ciardiello D, Martini G, Napolitano S, Tabernero J, Cervantes A. Clinical management of metastatic colorectal cancer in the era of precision medicine. CA Cancer J Clin 2022;72:372–401. doi: https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21728.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Biller LH, Schrag D. Diagnosis and Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Review. JAMA 2021;325:669–685. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.0106.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Ranasinghe R, Mathai M, Zulli A. A synopsis of modern — day colorectal cancer: Where we stand. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022;1877:188699. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188699.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. GBD 2019 Risk Factors Collaborators. Global burden of 87 risk factors in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet 2020;396:1223–1249. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30752-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. GBD 2019 Diseases and Injuries Collaborators. Global burden of 369 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet 2020;396:1204–1222. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30925-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Costea T, Hudiţă A, Ciolac OA, Gălăţeanu B, Ginghină O, Costache M, Ganea C, Mocanu MM. Chemoprevention of Colorectal Cancer by Dietary Compounds. Int J Mol Sci 2018;19:3787. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19123787.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Gan J, Xie L, Peng G, Xie J, Chen Y, Yu Q. Systematic review on modification methods of dietary fiber. Food Hydrocolloid 2021;119:106872. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2021.106872.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Kwon YJ, Lee HS, Park G, Kim HM, Lee JW. Association of Dietary Fiber Intake with All-Cause Mortality and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality: A 10-Year Prospective Cohort Study. Nutrients 2022;14. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14153089.

  12. Burkitt DP, Walker AR, Painter NS. Effect of dietary fibre on stools and the transittimes, and its role in the causation of disease. Lancet 1972;2:1408–1412. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(72)92974-1.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Bingham SA, Day NE, Luben R, Ferrari P, Slimani N, Norat T, Clavel-Chapelon F, Kesse E, Nieters A, Boeing H, Tjønneland A, Overvad K, Martinez C, Dorronsoro M, Gonzalez CA, Key TJ, Trichopoulou A, Naska A, Vineis P, Tumino R, Krogh V, Bueno-de-Mesquita HB, Peeters PH, Berglund G, Hallmans G, Lund E, Skeie G, Kaaks R, Riboli E. Dietary fibre in food and protection against colorectal cancer in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC): an observational study. Lancet 2003;361:1496–1501. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(03)13174-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Aune D, Chan DS, Lau R, Vieira R, Greenwood DC, Kampman E, Norat T. Dietary fibre, whole grains, and risk of colorectal cancer: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. BMJ 2011;343:d6617. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d6617.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Song M, Wu K, Meyerhardt JA, Ogino S, Wang M, Fuchs CS, Giovannucci EL, Chan AT. Fiber Intake and Survival After Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis. JAMA Oncol 2018;4:71–79. doi: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2017.3684.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Jones JM. Dietary fiber future directions: integrating new definitions and findings to inform nutrition research and communication. Adv Nutr 2013;4:8–15. doi: https://doi.org/10.3945/an.112.002907.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Liu Z, Jiang Y, Yuan H, Fang Q, Cai N, Suo C, Jin L, Zhang T, Chen X. The trends in incidence of primary liver cancer caused by specific etiologies: Results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 and implications for liver cancer prevention. J Hepatol 2019;70:674–683. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2018.12.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. GBD 2019 Colorectal Cancer Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of colorectal cancer and its risk factors, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022;7:627–647. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-1253(22)00044-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Deng Y, Wei B, Zhai Z, Zheng Y, Yao J, Wang S, Xiang D, Hu J, Ye X, Yang S, Wu Y, Li N, Xu P, Lyu J, Dai Z. Dietary Risk-Related Colorectal Cancer Burden: Estimates From 1990 to 2019. Front Nutr 2021;8:690663. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2021.690663.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Hou H, Chen D, Zhang K, Zhang W, Liu T, Wang S, Dai X, Wang B, Zhong W, Cao H. Gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids and colorectal cancer: Ready for clinical translation? Cancer Lett 2022;526:225–235. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canlet.2021.11.027.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Zeng H, Taussig DP, Cheng WH, Johnson LK, Hakkak R. Butyrate Inhibits Cancerous HCT116 Colon Cell Proliferation but to a Lesser Extent in Noncancerous NCM460 Colon Cells. Nutrients 2017;9:25. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9010025.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Elce A, Amato F, Zarrilli F, Calignano A, Troncone R, Castaldo G, Canani RB. Butyrate modulating effects on pro-inflammatory pathways in human intestinal epithelial cells. Benef Microbes 2017;8:841–847. doi: https://doi.org/10.3920/bm2016.0197.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Anderson JW, Baird P, Davis RH, Jr., Ferreri S, Knudtson M, Koraym A, Waters V, Williams CL. Health benefits of dietary fiber. Nutr Rev 2009;67:188–205. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2009.00189.x.

  24. GBD 2017 Colorectal Cancer Collaborators. The global, regional, and national burden of colorectal cancer and its attributable risk factors in 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019;4:913–933. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-1253(19)30345-0.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Stephen AM, Champ MMJ, Cloran SJ, Fleith M, van Lieshout L, Mejborn H, Burley VJ. Dietary fibre in Europe: current state of knowledge on definitions, sources, recommendations, intakes and relationships to health. Nutr Res Rev 2017;30:149–190. doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/S095442241700004X.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. King DE, Mainous AG, 3rd, Lambourne CA. Trends in dietary fiber intake in the United States, 1999–2008. J Acad Nutr Diet 2012;112:642–648. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2012.01.019.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Zhu Q, Yu L, Li Y, Man Q, Jia S, Zhou Y, Zuo H, Zhang J. Association between Dietary Fiber Intake and Hyperuricemia among Chinese Adults: Analysis of the China Adult Chronic Disease and Nutrition Surveillance (2015). Nutrients 2022;14:1433. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14071433.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Yu D, Zhao L, Zhao W. Status and trends in consumption of grains and dietary fiber among Chinese adults (1982–2015). Nutr Rev 2020;78:43–53. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuz075.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Zhai FY, Du SF, Wang ZH, Zhang JG, Du WW, Popkin BM. Dynamics of the Chinese diet and the role of urbanicity, 1991–2011. Obes Rev 2014;15 Suppl 1:16–26. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12124.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Gupta L, Khandelwal D, Kalra S. Increasing fibre in South Asian Diets. J Pak Med Assoc 2018;68:1135–1136.

    Google Scholar 

  31. He X, Wu K, Zhang X, Nishihara R, Cao Y, Fuchs CS, Giovannucci EL, Ogino S, Chan AT, Song M. Dietary intake of fiber, whole grains and risk of colorectal cancer: An updated analysis according to food sources, tumor location and molecular subtypes in two large US cohorts. Int J Cancer 2019;145:3040–3051. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.32382.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Bailey CE, Hu CY, You YN, Bednarski BK, Rodriguez-Bigas MA, Skibber JM, Cantor SB, Chang GJ. Increasing disparities in the age-related incidences of colon and rectal cancers in the United States, 1975–2010. JAMA Surg 2015;150:17–22. doi: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamasurg.2014.1756.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Imamura F, Micha R, Khatibzadeh S, Fahimi S, Shi P, Powles J, Mozaffarian D. Dietary quality among men and women in 187 countries in 1990 and 2010: a systematic assessment. Lancet Glob Health 2015;3:e132–e142. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(14)70381-X.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Jacobs ET, Lanza E, Alberts DS, Hsu CH, Jiang R, Schatzkin A, Thompson PA, Martínez ME. Fiber, sex, and colorectal adenoma: results of a pooled analysis. Am J Clin Nutr 2006;83:343–349. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/83.2.343.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Reynolds A, Mann J, Cummings J, Winter N, Mete E, Te Morenga L. Carbohydrate quality and human health: a series of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Lancet 2019;393:434–445. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(18)31809-9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Atkin WS, Edwards R, Kralj-Hans I, Wooldrage K, Hart AR, Northover JM, Parkin DM, Wardle J, Duffy SW, Cuzick J. Once-only flexible sigmoidoscopy screening in prevention of colorectal cancer: a multicentre randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2010;375:1624–1633. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(10)60551-x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Levin B, Lieberman DA, McFarland B, Smith RA, Brooks D, Andrews KS, Dash C, Giardiello FM, Glick S, Levin TR, Pickhardt P, Rex DK, Thorson A, Winawer SJ. Screening and Surveillance for the Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer and Adenomatous Polyps, 2008: A Joint Guideline from the American Cancer Society, the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, and the American College of Radiology. CA Cancer J Clin 2008;58:130–160. doi: https://doi.org/10.3322/CA.2007.0018.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We appreciate the works by the Global Burden of Disease study 2019 collaborators.

Funding

Funding: None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

Author Contributions: Conceptualization, ZS.S and TS.Y; Methodology, WC.X; Software, WC.X, JL,Z and ZL,M; Data Curation, WD.Y and ZY,H; Writing — Original Draft Preparation, WC.X, JL,Z and ZL,M; Writing — Review & Editing, ZS.S, TS.Y, WD.Y and ZY,H; Visualization, WC.X, JL,Z and ZL,M; All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Tingsong Yang or Zhenshun Song.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethics declarations: The Ethics Committee of the Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital determined that this study did not require approval since it was using a publicly available database. This study was conducted in compliance with the laws of the China.

Electronic supplementary material

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Xie, W., Zuo, J., Ma, Z. et al. The Burden of Colorectal Cancer Attributable to Diet Low in Fiber from 1990 to 2019: A Global, Regional and National Analysis. J Nutr Health Aging 26, 1061–1069 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-022-1865-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-022-1865-x

Key words

Navigation