Association of Habitual Preoperative Dietary Fiber Intake With Complications After Colorectal Cancer Surgery.

IMPORTANCE: Postoperative complications are associated with increased morbidity and mortality among patients with colorectal cancer. As a modifiable factor associated with gut health, dietary fiber intake is of interest with regard to the risk of complications after surgery for colorectal cancer. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between preoperative dietary fiber intake and risk of complications after surgery for colorectal cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cohort study used data from the Colorectal Longitudinal, Observational Study on Nutritional and Lifestyle Factors (COLON) study, which recruited adult patients with colorectal cancer at any stage at diagnosis from 11 hospitals in the Netherlands between August 2010 and December 2017. The present study included patients with stage I to IV colorectal cancer who underwent elective abdominal surgery. Data were analyzed between December 2019 and September 2020. EXPOSURES: Habitual dietary fiber intake was assessed at diagnosis using a 204-item food frequency questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Any complications, surgical complications, and anastomotic leakage occurring during the 30 days after surgery for colorectal cancer. The association between fiber intake and risk of postoperative complications was assessed using logistic regression analyses. Additional analyses stratified by sex, tumor location, and fiber source were performed. RESULTS: Among the 1399 patients included in the analysis, the median age at inclusion was 66 years (interquartile range, 61-72 years) and 896 (64%) were men. Any complications occurred in 397 patients (28%), and surgical complications occurred in 235 patients (17%). Of 1237 patients with an anastomosis, 67 (5%) experienced anastomotic leakage. Higher dietary fiber intake (per 10 g per day) was associated with a lower risk of any complications (odds ratio [OR], 0.75; 95% CI, 0.62-0.92) and surgical complications (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.60-0.97), whereas no association with anastomotic leakage was found (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.66-1.43). Among women, higher dietary intake was associated with any complications (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.44-0.94), whereas there was no association among men (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.63-1.01). Fiber intake from vegetables (per 1 g per day) was inversely associated with any (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.83-0.99) and surgical (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.78-0.97) complications. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this cohort study, higher habitual dietary fiber intake before surgery was associated with a lower risk of postoperative complications among patients with colorectal cancer. The findings suggest that improving preoperative dietary fiber intake may be considered in future prehabilitation programs for patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer.

Circulating B-vitamin biomarkers and B-vitamin supplement use in relation to quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer: results from the FOCUS consortium.

BACKGROUND: B vitamins have been associated with the risk and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC), given their central roles in nucleotide synthesis and methylation, yet their association with quality of life in established CRC is unclear. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether quality of life 6 months postdiagnosis is associated with: 1) circulating concentrations of B vitamins and related biomarkers 6 months postdiagnosis; 2) changes in these concentrations between diagnosis and 6 months postdiagnosis; 3) B-vitamin supplement use 6 months postdiagnosis; and 4) changes in B-vitamin supplement use between diagnosis and 6 months postdiagnosis. METHODS: We included 1676 newly diagnosed stage I-III CRC patients from 3 prospective European cohorts. Circulating concentrations of 9 biomarkers related to the B vitamins folate, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and cobalamin were measured at diagnosis and 6 months postdiagnosis. Information on dietary supplement use was collected at both time points. Health-related quality of life (global quality of life, functioning scales, and fatigue) was assessed by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire 6 months postdiagnosis. Confounder-adjusted linear regression analyses were performed, adjusted for multiple testing. RESULTS: Higher pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) was cross-sectionally associated with better physical, role, and social functioning, as well as reduced fatigue, 6 months postdiagnosis. Associations were observed for a doubling in the hydroxykynurenine ratio [3-hydroxykynurenine: (kynurenic acid + xanthurenic acid + 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid + anthranilic acid); an inverse marker of vitamin B6] and both reduced global quality of life (ß = -3.62; 95% CI: -5.88, -1.36) and worse physical functioning (ß = -5.01; 95% CI: -7.09, -2.94). Dose-response relations were observed for PLP and quality of life. No associations were observed for changes in biomarker concentrations between diagnosis and 6 months. Participants who stopped using B-vitamin supplements after diagnosis reported higher fatigue than nonusers. CONCLUSIONS: Higher vitamin B6 status was associated with better quality of life, yet limited associations were observed for the use of B-vitamin supplements. Vitamin B6 needs further study to clarify its role in relation to quality of life.

Sufficient 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels 2 Years after Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis are Associated with a Lower Risk of All-cause Mortality.

BACKGROUND: Whether changes in 25 hydroxy vitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) levels after colorectal cancer diagnosis influence clinical outcomes is unclear. We investigated the association of trajectories of 25(OH)D3 levels with recurrence and all-cause mortality. METHODS: In total, 679 patients were included in our data analyses. Trajectories of 25(OH)D3 levels were defined on the basis of vitamin D status at diagnosis, at 6 months, and 2 years after diagnosis. Observed trajectories of 25(OH)D3 levels were consistent deficient levels (20%), consistent sufficient levels (39%), increasing levels (20%), and a temporary drop in levels (13%). Associations of trajectories of 25(OH)D3 with recurrence and all-cause mortality were assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models. RESULTS: During a follow-up time of 2.2 years for recurrence and 3.5 years for all-cause mortality, 31 and 65 events occurred, respectively. No statistically significant associations were observed for vitamin D trajectories and the risk of recurrence. Patients who were consistently sufficient compared with patients who were consistently deficient had a lower risk of all-cause mortality [HR 0.39; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.21-0.73]. The risk of all-cause mortality seems lower in patients with increasing levels or a temporary drop in levels (HR 0.54; 95% CI, 0.27-1.10 and HR 0.40 95% CI, 0.17-0.93) relative to patients with consistent deficient levels. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with colorectal cancer following a trajectory characterized by sufficient levels of 25(OH)D3 2 years after diagnosis all appeared to have a lower risk of all-cause mortality compared with patients having consistent deficient levels. IMPACT: Further studies should investigate how trajectories of 25(OH)D3 levels are associated with colorectal cancer recurrence.

Diet quality indices and dietary patterns are associated with plasma metabolites in colorectal cancer patients.

PURPOSE: Emerging evidence suggests that diet is linked to survival in colorectal cancer patients, although underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether dietary exposures are associated with metabolite concentrations in colorectal cancer patients. METHODS: Concentrations of 134 metabolites of the Biocrates AbsoluteIDQ p180 kit were quantified in plasma samples collected at diagnosis from 195 stage I-IV colorectal cancer patients. Food frequency questionnaires were used to calculate adherence to the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) dietary recommendations and the Dutch Healthy Diet (DHD15) index as well as to construct dietary patterns using Principal Component Analysis. Multivariable linear regression models were used to determine associations between dietary exposures and metabolite concentrations. All models were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, analytical batch, cancer stage, and multiple testing using false discovery rate. RESULTS: Participants had a mean (SD) age of 66 (9) years, were mostly men (60%), and mostly diagnosed with stage II and III cancer. For the dietary pattern analyses, Western, Carnivore, and Prudent patterns were identified. Better adherence to the WCRF dietary recommendations was associated with lower concentrations of ten phosphatidylcholines. Higher intake of the Carnivore pattern was associated with higher concentrations of two phosphatidylcholines. The DHD15-index, Western pattern, or Prudent pattern were not associated with metabolite concentrations. CONCLUSION: In the current study, the WCRF dietary score and the Carnivore pattern are associated with phosphatidylcholines. Future research should elucidate the potential relevance of phosphatidylcholine metabolism in the colorectal cancer continuum. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03191110.

Circulating Folate and Folic Acid Concentrations: Associations With Colorectal Cancer Recurrence and Survival.

BACKGROUND: Folates, including folic acid, may play a dual role in colorectal cancer development. Folate is suggested to be protective in early carcinogenesis but could accelerate growth of premalignant lesions or micrometastases. Whether circulating concentrations of folate and folic acid, measured around time of diagnosis, are associated with recurrence and survival in colorectal cancer patients is largely unknown. METHODS: Circulating concentrations of folate, folic acid, and folate catabolites p-aminobenzoylglutamate and p-acetamidobenzoylglutamate were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry at diagnosis in 2024 stage I-III colorectal cancer patients from European and US patient cohort studies. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess associations between folate, folic acid, and folate catabolites concentrations with recurrence, overall survival, and disease-free survival. RESULTS: No statistically significant associations were observed between folate, p-aminobenzoylglutamate, and p-acetamidobenzoylglutamate concentrations and recurrence, overall survival, and disease-free survival, with hazard ratios ranging from 0.92 to 1.16. The detection of folic acid in the circulation (yes or no) was not associated with any outcome. However, among patients with detectable folic acid concentrations (n = 296), a higher risk of recurrence was observed for each twofold increase in folic acid (hazard ratio = 1.31, 95% confidence interval = 1.02 to 1.58). No statistically significant associations were found between folic acid concentrations and overall and disease-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating folate and folate catabolite concentrations at colorectal cancer diagnosis were not associated with recurrence and survival. However, caution is warranted for high blood concentrations of folic acid because they may increase the risk of colorectal cancer recurrence.

An increase in physical activity after colorectal cancer surgery is associated with improved recovery of physical functioning: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The influence of physical activity on patient-reported recovery of physical functioning after colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery is unknown. Therefore, we studied recovery of physical functioning after hospital discharge by (a) a relative increase in physical activity level and (b) absolute activity levels before and after surgery. METHODS: We included 327 incident CRC patients (stages I-III) from a prospective observational study. Patients completed questionnaires that assessed physical functioning and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity shortly after diagnosis and 6 months later. Cox regression models were used to calculate prevalence ratios (PRs) of no recovery of physical functioning. All PRs were adjusted for age, sex, physical functioning before surgery, stage of disease, ostomy and body mass index. RESULTS: At 6 months post-diagnosis 54% of CRC patients had not recovered to pre-operative physical functioning. Patients who increased their activity by at least 60 min/week were 43% more likely to recover physical function (adjusted PR 0.57 95%CI 0.39-0.82), compared with those with stable activity levels. Higher post-surgery levels of physical activity were also positively associated with recovery (P for trend = 0.01). In contrast, activity level before surgery was not associated with recovery (P for trend = 0.24). CONCLUSIONS: At 6 month post-diagnosis, about half of CRC patients had not recovered to preoperative functioning. An increase in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity after CRC surgery was associated with enhanced recovery of physical functioning. This benefit was seen regardless of physical activity level before surgery. These associations provide evidence to further explore connections between physical activity and recovery from CRC surgery after discharge from the hospital.

[Cholecystectomy without visible scars: the transvaginal method]. / Transvaginale cholecystectomie.

Since the 1990's, laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been the standard procedure for symptomatic gallstone disease. Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) is the next logical step in the development of minimal invasive surgery. During a NOTES procedure, a natural orifice is used to gain access to the abdominal cavity instead of incisions through the abdominal wall. In this article we report the introduction of the NOTES technique to the Netherlands. In our institution, 15 women with gallstone disease recently underwent transvaginal cholecystectomy. The procedure performed was a hybrid NOTES cholecystectomy. Only one trocar was inserted through the umbilicus, and two other instruments were inserted through the vagina. The potential advantages of this technique include a better cosmetic result and less postoperative pain. The number and type of complications do not appear to differ from those of the standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy.