acidic lipids in fecal water-a potential risk factor for colon cancer13

Although there have recently been reports in the literature indicatingthat vegeta- rian-type diets are protective against the development ofhuman colon cancer, this is still far from clear. It was also recently indicated that the concentration ofacidic lipids in the aqueous phase of stool constitutes a risk factor for the development of colon cancer. Thus, we examined the effect ofa change from a mixed to a lactovegetarian diet on this fecal variable. The dietary change caused a decrease in the total concentration ofsoluble fecal fatty acids(43 10 ± 3020 to 1080 ± 1040 �mol/ L, p < 0.05) and deoxycholic acid (125 ± 42 to 73 ± 35 �tmol/L, p < 0.05). However, there was no change in either the total bile acid concentration in (164 ± 54 to 107 ± 41 �.�mol/L) or the cellular toxicity of (0.94 ± 0.55 to 1.60 ± 0.63 �mol/L, relative survival) the aqueous phase of stool. Thus, the consumption ofa lactovegetarian diet may reduce certain risk factors of potential significance in colon carcinogenesis. Am J C/in Nuir 1989;50:992-6.