Associations Between Parameters of Glucose and Lipid Metabolism and Risk of Colorectal Neoplasm

Diabetes and dyslipidemia have been linked to an increased risk of colorectal neoplasm (CRN). However, previous studies evaluating these associations have shown inconsistent results, and large-scale studies are few in number.

To investigate the associations between the parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism and the presence of CRN.

A cross-sectional study was performed on 38,490 Korean adults aged ≥30 years undergoing their first colonoscopy as part of routine preventive health care between 2010 and 2011.

The prevalence of overall CRN increased with increasing levels of glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and with decreasing level of apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1). The adjusted prevalence ratios for overall CRN comparing the fourth with the first quartiles of fasting glucose, HbA1c, insulin, HOMA-IR, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-C, ApoB, and ApoA-1 were 1.83 (95 % CI 1.62–2.06), 1.17 (95 % CI 1.03–1.33), 1.09 (95 % CI 0.97–1.23), 1.22 (95 % CI 1.08–1.37), 1.31 (95 % CI 1.16–1.48), 1.19 (95 % CI 1.07–1.33), 1.38 (95 % CI 1.23–1.54), 1.30 (95 % CI 1.14–1.47), and 0.85 (95 % CI 0.76–0.95), respectively. There was also a significant association between higher levels of glucose, LDL-C, and ApoB with a higher prevalence of advanced CRN. Moreover, the risk of CRN increased further in cases in which the parameters of glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism worsened simultaneously.

The levels of parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism are significantly associated with the prevalence of CRN. Altered glucose and lipid metabolism may contribute to the development of CRN.