Problems with the assessment of dietary fat in prostate cancer studies

Leslie K Dennis; Linda G Snetselaar; Brian J Smith; Ron E Stewart; Michael E C Robbins

doi:10.1093/aje/kwh243

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Problems with the assessment of dietary fat in prostate cancer studies

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Problems with the assessment of dietary fat in prostate cancer studies

Leslie K Dennis, Linda G Snetselaar, Brian J Smith, Ron E Stewart and Michael E C Robbins

American journal of epidemiology, Vol.160(5), pp.436-444

09/01/2004

DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwh243

PMID: 15321840

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Abstract

The authors conducted a detailed review of studies on the association between prostate cancer and total dietary fat along with specific fatty acids. Overall, the 29 studies reporting actual dietary fat levels in grams of fat were heterogeneous, suggesting that pooling of the relative risks may be inappropriate. Heterogeneity was also seen by study design. More specifically, although the pooled estimate for prostate cancer and an increase of 45 g in total fat consumption per day was small (relative risk = 1.2), heterogeneity between studies was large, and the association was not supported by specific fatty acids. The strongest association was found among the five extremely inconsistent studies of alpha-linolenic fatty acid. The associations with advanced prostate cancer were more homogeneous and suggest a relation with total and saturated fat but none with specific fatty acids. This review highlights the inconsistent way in which total dietary fat and specific fatty acids have been measured and reported across epidemiologic studies of prostate cancer. The heterogeneity between studies was large, possibly because of the variation in the dietary instruments used and the corresponding databases (nondifferential misclassification), recall bias, differing case definitions, residual confounding, or potential selection bias in different studies.

Dietary Fats - adverse effects

Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - adverse effects

Humans

Dietary Fats - administration & dosage

Male

Risk

Prostatic Neoplasms - chemically induced

Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - administration & dosage

Prostatic Neoplasms - epidemiology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Problems with the assessment of dietary fat in prostate cancer studies
Creators: Leslie K Dennis - Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242. USA. leslie-dennis@uiowa.edu
Linda G Snetselaar
Brian J Smith
Ron E Stewart
Michael E C Robbins
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: American journal of epidemiology, Vol.160(5), pp.436-444
DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwh243
PMID: 15321840
NLM abbreviation: Am J Epidemiol
ISSN: 0002-9262
eISSN: 1476-6256
Publisher: United States
Grant note: R01 CA 82722 / NCI NIH HHS 1R03 CA 78201-01A1 / NCI NIH HHS R03 CA078201-01A1 / NCI NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 09/01/2004
Academic Unit: Epidemiology; Biostatistics; Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9983995147802771

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