Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Egg consumption and risk of GI neoplasms: dose–response meta-analysis and systematic review

  • Original Contribution
  • Published:
European Journal of Nutrition Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Previous epidemiological studies on egg consumption and the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) neoplasms suggest a positive association; however, data are limited and the evidence remains controversial. This study aims to investigate and quantify the potential dose–response relationship with an evaluation of cancer site-specific differences.

Methods

Relevant studies were identified after the literature search via electronic databases until January 2014. Subgroup analysis for serving portions was performed using two standardized classification methods: (1) less than 3, or 3 or more eggs per week; (2) less than 3, 3–5, or more than 5 eggs per week. Method two excludes studies that only reported consumption frequency. Pooled adjusted odds ratios (ORs) comparing highest and lowest categories of dietary pattern scores were calculated using a random-effects model.

Results

Thirty-seven case–control and seven cohort studies were included for meta-analysis, which contained a total of 424,867 participants and 18,852 GI neoplasm cases. The combined odds ratio (OR) was calculated to 1.15 (95 % CI 1.09–1.22; p value heterogeneity <0.001), showing only a slight increase in risk. The correlation was stronger for colon cancers 1.29 (95 % CI 1.14–1.46; p value heterogeneity <0.22). Dose–response analysis revealed similar results with stratification methods, and the ORs for an intake of <3 and ≥3 eggs per week were 1.14 (95 % CI 1.07–1.22; p value heterogeneity = 0.38) and 1.25 (95 % CI 1.14–1.38; p value heterogeneity = 0.25), respectively. With method 2, the ORs for an intake of <3, 3–5, and >5 eggs per week were 1.13 (95 % CI 1.06–1.21; p value heterogeneity = 0.25), 1.14 (95 % CI 1.01–1.29; p value heterogeneity = 0.06), and 1.19 (95 % CI 1.01–1.39; p value heterogeneity <0.001), respectively.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence that egg consumption is associated with a positive dose–response association with the development of GI neoplasms.

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. World Cancer Research Fund (2007) Food, nutrition, physical activity and the prevention of cancer: a global perspective. American Institute for Cancer Research, Washington, DC, USA

  2. Steinmetz KA, Potter JD (1994) Egg consumption and cancer of the colon and rectum. Eur J Cancer Prev 3:237–245

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Gonzalez CA, Sanz JM, Marcos G, Pita S, Brullet E, Saigi E, Badia A, Riboli E (1991) Dietary factors and stomach cancer in Spain: a multi-centre case-control study. Int J Cancer 49:513–519

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Gao CM, Takezaki T, Ding JH, Li MS, Tajima K (1999) Protective effect of allium vegetables against both esophageal and stomach cancer: a simultaneous case-referent study of a high-epidemic area in Jiangsu Province, China. Jpn J Cancer Res 90:614–621

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Nishimoto IN, Hamada GS, Kowalski LP, Rodrigues JG, Iriya K, Sasazuki S, Hanaoka T, Tsugane S, Sao Paulo-Japan Cancer Project Gastric Cancer Study G (2002) Risk factors for stomach cancer in Brazil (I): a case-control study among non-Japanese Brazilians in Sao Paulo. Jpn J Clin Oncol 32:277–283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Levi F, Pasche C, La Vecchia C, Lucchini F, Franceschi S (1999) Food groups and colorectal cancer risk. Br J Cancer 79:1283–1287

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Bosetti C, La Vecchia C, Talamini R, Simonato L, Zambon P, Negri E, Trichopoulos D, Lagiou P, Bardini R, Franceschi S (2000) Food groups and risk of squamous cell esophageal cancer in northern Italy. Int J Cancer 87:289–294

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Block G, Dresser CM, Hartman AM, Carroll MD (1985) Nutrient sources in the American diet: quantitative data from the NHANES II survey. II. Macronutrients and fats. Am J Epidemiol 122:27–40

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Cruse P, Lewin M, Clark CG (1979) Dietary cholesterol is co-carcinogenic for human colon cancer. Lancet 1:752–755

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Sakaguchi M, Minoura T, Hiramatsu Y, Takada H, Yamamura M, Hioki K, Yamamoto M (1986) Effects of dietary saturated and unsaturated fatty acids on fecal bile acids and colon carcinogenesis induced by azoxymethane in rats. Cancer Res 46:61–65

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Bidoli E, Franceschi S, Talamini R, Barra S, La Vecchia C (1992) Food consumption and cancer of the colon and rectum in north-eastern Italy. Int J Cancer 50:223–229

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Bernstein H, Bernstein C, Payne CM, Dvorakova K, Garewal H (2005) Bile acids as carcinogens in human gastrointestinal cancers. Mutat Res 589:47–65

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Cho E, Willett WC, Colditz GA, Fuchs CS, Wu K, Chan AT, Zeisel SH, Giovannucci EL (2007) Dietary choline and betaine and the risk of distal colorectal adenoma in women. J Natl Cancer Inst 99:1224–1231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Zeisel SH, Mar MH, Howe JC, Holden JM (2003) Concentrations of choline-containing compounds and betaine in common foods. J Nutr 133:1302–1307

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Chandar N, Lombardi B (1988) Liver cell proliferation and incidence of hepatocellular carcinomas in rats fed consecutively a choline-devoid and a choline-supplemented diet. Carcinogenesis 9:259–263

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Nakagami K, Uchida T, Ohwada S, Koibuchi Y, Morishita Y (1999) Increased choline kinase activity in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced rat colon cancer. Jpn J Cancer Res 90:1212–1217

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Stroup DF, Berlin JA, Morton SC, Olkin I, Williamson GD, Rennie D, Moher D, Becker BJ, Sipe TA, Thacker SB, Grp M (2000) Meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology: a proposal for reporting. JAMA 283:2008–2012

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. DerSimonian R, Laird N (1986) Meta-analysis in clinical trials. Control Clin Trials 7:177–188

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Higgins JPT, Thompson SG, Deeks JJ, Altman DG (2003) Measuring inconsistency in meta-analyses. BMJ 327:557–560. doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7414.557

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Egger M, Smith GD, Schneider M, Minder C (1997) Bias in meta-analysis detected by a simple, graphical test. BMJ 315:629–634

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Kampman E, Verhoeven D, Sloots L, van’t Veer P (1995) Vegetable and animal products as determinants of colon cancer risk in Dutch men and women. Cancer Causes Control 6:225–234

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Matthew JA, Johnson IT (1995) Egg consumption and risk-markers for colorectal neoplasia. Eur J Cancer Prev 4:425–428

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Yoon H, Benamouzig R, Little J, Francois-Collange M, Tome D (2000) Systematic review of epidemiological studies on meat, dairy products and egg consumption and risk of colorectal adenomas. Eur J Cancer Prev 9:151–164

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Hiramatsu Y, Takada H, Yamamura M, Hioki K, Saito K, Yamamoto M (1983) Effect of dietary cholesterol on azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis in rats. Carcinogenesis 4:553–558

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Song WO, Kerver JM (2000) Nutritional contribution of eggs to American diets. J Am Coll Nutr 19:556S–562S

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Morin RJ, Hu B, Peng SK, Sevanian A (1991) Cholesterol oxides and carcinogenesis. J Clin Lab Anal 5:219–225

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Nagengast FM, Grubben MJ, van Munster IP (1995) Role of bile acids in colorectal carcinogenesis. Eur J Cancer 31A:1067–1070

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Lin TM (1975) Actions of gastrointestinal hormones and related peptides on the motor function of the biliary tract. Gastroenterology 69:1006–1022

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Bjeldanes LF, Morris MM, Felton JS, Healy S, Stuermer D, Berry P, Timourian H, Hatch FT (1982) Mutagens from the cooking of food. II. Survey by Ames/salmonella test of mutagen formation in the major protein-rich foods of the American diet. Food Chem Toxicol 20:357–363

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Zheng W, Lee SA (2009) Well-done meat intake, heterocyclic amine exposure, and cancer risk. Nutr Cancer 61:437–446

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Le Marchand L, Wilkens LR, Hankin JH, Kolonel LN, Lyu LC (1997) A case-control study of diet and colorectal cancer in a multiethnic population in Hawaii (United States): lipids and foods of animal origin. Cancer Causes Control 8:637–648

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Aune D, De Stefani E, Ronco AL, Boffetta P, Deneo-Pellegrini H, Acosta G, Mendilaharsu M (2009) Egg consumption and the risk of cancer: a multisite case-control study in Uruguay. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 10:869–876

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Whiteley-Martin Research Centre, The Discipline of Surgery, Sydney Medical School, Nepean Hospital, The University of Sydney, Level 5, South Block, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia

    Genevieve Tse & Guy D. Eslick

Authors
  1. Genevieve Tse
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Guy D. Eslick
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guy D. Eslick.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tse, G., Eslick, G.D. Egg consumption and risk of GI neoplasms: dose–response meta-analysis and systematic review. Eur J Nutr 53, 1581–1590 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-014-0664-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-014-0664-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation