Intakes of selenium and calcium are inversely correlated with incidence of colorectal cancer: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2014

Diet is a modifiable risk factor that strongly influences colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. Previous studies have associated CRC with impaired nutrient intakes including calcium, selenium and folate intakes. This study sought to investigate relationships between calcium, selenium and folate intakes and CRC. Calcium, selenium, and folate intakes and incidence of CRC from a selected cohort within the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999--2014 were analyzed. A total of 2,130 men and women aged 31 to 85 with and without CRC were included in the analysis. The relationships between daily intakes of calcium, selenium and folate and CRC incidence were analyzed using chi2 test and logistic regression. Correlations between calcium, selenium and folate intakes and CRC were also assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient.