Beans and colorectal cancer.

Colon cancer risk: Data about colon cancer risk was provided by a pooled analysis of cohorts. No associations was found from high vs low consumption of peas/lima beans (7 cohorts), string beans (9 cohorts), and mature beans/lentils (13 cohorts). But a significant protective effect (RR = 0.89) was found at an intermediate level of consumption of peas/lima beans (> 0 to < 1 serving/wk).
Rectal cancer risk: Data about rectal cancer risk was provided by 3 cohorts. A significantly increased risk of broad beans among women, but not men, was found in one cohort (9). No associations were found with string beans (6, 9), peas (6), or lima beans.
Colorectal cancer risk: Data from an article about 1 cohort was not stratified by cancer site (though information about colon cancer was used by the pooled analysis). No association was found with beans, lentils, lima beans, peas, or string beans (23).

Conclusion: A significant protective effect from an intermediate level of consumption of peas/lima beans against total colon cancer risk was found in a pooled analysis of 7 cohorts. Peas/lima beans possibly protect against total colon cancer risk at the level of consumption of > 0 to < 1 serving/wk (- 11%).

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