Results from a global meta-analysis by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers confirm that tall adults are more likely to develop colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps that lead to cancer than short adults. Although the relationship between tall stature and colorectal cancer has been studied before, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers concluded that the results of these studies were contradictory, as they included inconsistent height parameters and did not consider the risk of developing adenomatous polyps, which are precancerous.
“This analysis is the largest study to date and confirms that tall stature is an overlooked risk factor that should be considered for early detection of colorectal cancer,” said Gerard Mullin, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Both Dr. Mullin and the group of researchers caution that the analysis does not confirm that tall stature is a causal effect or a risk factor as preponderant as age and genetic inheritance. That said, the study carried out by Johns Hopkins corroborates the already identified relationship between tall stature and the risk of suffering from colorectal cancer.
“There is a correlation between height and organ size, and this is one of the plausible reasons for the findings,” explains Dr. Elinor Zhou, co-author of the published report. “Because there is greater cell proliferation in the organs of tall people, there may be greater mutations that lead to malignant lesions.”
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Results from a global meta-analysis by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers confirm that tall adults are more likely to develop colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps that lead to cancer than short adults. Although the relationship between tall stature and colorectal cancer has been studied before, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers concluded that the results of these studies were contradictory, as they included inconsistent height parameters and did not consider the risk of developing adenomatous polyps, which are precancerous.
“This analysis is the largest study to date and confirms that tall stature is an overlooked risk factor that should be considered for early detection of colorectal cancer,” said Gerard Mullin, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Both Dr. Mullin and the group of researchers caution that the analysis does not confirm that tall stature is a causal effect or a risk factor as preponderant as age and genetic inheritance. That said, the study carried out by Johns Hopkins corroborates the already identified relationship between tall stature and the risk of suffering from colorectal cancer.
“There is a correlation between height and organ size, and this is one of the plausible reasons for the findings,” explains Dr. Elinor Zhou, co-author of the published report. “Because there is greater cell proliferation in the organs of tall people, there may be greater mutations that lead to malignant lesions.”
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/newsroom/news-releases/2022/03/study-taller-adults-may-be-at-increased-risk-for-colorectal-cancer (2022).--