Low-fat diets lead to increased abnormal growths in the colon

This study was published in the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 1994 May;47(5):525-36

 

Study title and authors:

A randomized trial of a low fat high fibre diet in the recurrence of colorectal polyps. Toronto Polyp Prevention Group.

McKeown-Eyssen GE, Bright-See E, Bruce WR, Jazmaji V, Cohen LB, Pappas SC, Saibil FG.

Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7730878

This study investigated the effect of a low-fat, high fibre diet on the recurrence of neoplastic colorectal polyps (abnormal growths in the colon) in patients who had had previous colorectal polyps removed. The study lasted for two years and included 201 patients who had diets of the following:
(i) Given counselling to follow a low-fat, high-fibre diet: 25% fat and 35 grams a day of fibre (lower-fat , higher-fibre group).
(ii) Told to follow a normal higher-fat, lower-fibre diet: 33% fat and 16 grams a day of fibre (higher-fat, lower-fibre group).

The study found that the lower-fat, higher-fibre group had a 20% increased risk of recurrence of abnormal growths in the colon compared to the higher-fat, lower-fibre group.