Intest Res.  2018 Jan;16(1):99-108. 10.5217/ir.2018.16.1.99.

An analysis of dietary fiber and fecal fiber components including pH in rural Africans with colorectal cancer

• Faruk M
• Ibrahim S
• Adamu A
• Rafindadi
• Ukwenya Y
• Iliyasu Y
• Adamu A
• Aminu SM
• Shehu MS
• Ameh DA
• Mohammed A
• Ahmed SA
• Idoko J
• Ntekim A
• Suleiman A
• Shah KZ
• Adoke KU

• KMID: 2402653
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5217/ir.2018.16.1.99

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is now a major public health problem with heavy morbidity and mortality in rural Africans despite the lingering dietary fiber-rich foodstuffs consumption. Studies have shown that increased intake of dietary fiber which contribute to low fecal pH and also influences the activity of intestinal microbiota, is associated with a lowered risk for CRC. However, whether or not the apparent high dietary fiber consumption by Africans do not longer protects against CRC risk is unknown. This study evaluated dietary fiber intake, fecal fiber components and pH levels in CRC patients.
METHODS
Thirty-five subjects (CRC=21, control=14), mean age 45 years were recruited for the study. A truncated food frequency questionnaire and modified Goering and Van Soest procedures were used.
RESULTS
We found that all subjects consumed variety of dietary fiber-rich foodstuffs. There is slight preponderance in consumption of dietary fiber by the control group than the CRC patients. We also found a significant difference in the mean fecal neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin contents from the CRC patients compared to the controls (P < 0.05). The CRC patients had significantly more fecal pH level than the matched apparently healthy controls (P=0.017).
CONCLUSIONS
The identified differences in the fecal fiber components and stool pH levels between the 2 groups may relate to CRC incidence and mortality in rural Africans. There is crucial need for more hypothesis-driven research with adequate funding on the cumulative preventive role of dietary fiber-rich foodstuffs against colorectal cancer in rural Africans "today."

Keyword

Colorectal neoplasm; Dietary fiber; pH; Africa; Nigeria

MeSH Terms

Africa
Cellulose
Colorectal Neoplasms*
Detergents
Dietary Fiber*
Financial Management
Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Humans
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration*
Incidence
Lignin
Mortality
Nigeria
Public Health
Cellulose
Detergents
Lignin

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Simple clustered column chart showing dietary intake of different native African foodstuffs rich in soluble fiber. Also shown is the frequency of intake by the colorectal cancer and matched apparently healthy control group. The control group show increased frequency of intake in some of the food items compared with the colorectal patients.

• 

  Fig. 2 Simple clustered column chart showing dietary intake of different native African foodstuffs rich in insoluble fiber. The chart also show frequency of dietary fiber intake by the colorectal cancer patients and the control group.

• 

  Fig. 3 A bar chart showing an increase frequency of red meat consumption by the colorectal cancer patients and fish intake by the control group.

• 

  Fig. 4 A bar chart showing pattern of fecal pH level the colorectal cancer group compared the control group.

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