Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Early life events and later risk of colorectal cancer: age-period-cohort modelling in the Nordic countries and Estonia

  • Published:
Cancer Causes & Control Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract.

Background: A lowering of colorectal cancer risk for the birth cohorts born around World War II (WWII) has previously been observed in Norway, a country which suffered some 20% caloric restriction during the war. The purpose of the study was to conduct a similar kind of analysis in the other Nordic countries and Estonia, which were also subjected to various degrees of energy restriction during WWII.

Methods: All new cases of colorectal cancer in the Nordic countries and Estonia diagnosed between 40 and 84 years of age and born between 1874 and 1953, were collected from the national cancer registries. The incidence data were fitted to an age-period-cohort model.

Results: A transient drop in the estimated colorectal cancer incidence rate was observed for the birth cohorts born around WWII in Estonia, together with a tendency of decreased risk in Sweden and Denmark.

Conclusion: The previously observed lowering of colorectal cancer risk for persons born during WWII in Norway also prevails in Estonia. Energy restriction is a possible explanation for these findings, since the countries suffered from varying nutritional conditions during the war. Exogenous factors acting during periods early in life may have an impact on later colorectal cancer risk.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. S Frankel DJ Gunnell TJ Peters M Maynard SG Davey (1998) ArticleTitleChildhood energy intake and adult mortality from cancer: the Boyd Orr Cohort Study BMJ 316 499–504 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1c7mt1egsw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9501710

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. ML Slattery BJ Caan JD Potter et al. (1997) ArticleTitleDietary energy sources and colon cancer risk Am J Epidemiol 145 199–210 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByiC28votlQ%3D Occurrence Handle9012592

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. L Le Marchand LR Wilkens LN Kolonel JH Hankin LC Lyu (1997) ArticleTitleAssociations of sedentary lifestyle, obesity, smoking, alcohol use, and diabetes with the risk of colorectal cancer Cancer Res 57 4787–4794 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXnt12gu70%3D Occurrence Handle9354440

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. D Kritchevsky (1995) ArticleTitleThe effect of over- and undernutrition on cancer Eur J Cancer Prev 4 445–451 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BymC283jvVc%3D Occurrence Handle8580779

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. D Kritchevsky (1993) ArticleTitleColorectal cancer: the role of dietary fat and caloric restriction Mutat Res 290 63–70 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByuD2cbptVc%3D Occurrence Handle7694100

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. SD Hursting JA Lavigne D Berrigan SN Perkins JC Barrett (2003) ArticleTitleCalorie restriction, aging, and cancer prevention: mechanisms of action and applicability to humans Annu Rev Med 54 131–152 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXit1ejsL4%3D Occurrence Handle12525670

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. E Svensson T Grotmol G Hoff F Langmark J Norstein S Tretli (2002) ArticleTitleTrends in colorectal cancer incidence in Norway by gender and anatomic site: an age-period-cohort analysis Eur J Cancer Prev 11 489–495 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00008469-200210000-00012 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD38njsV2lsQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle12394247

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. MJ Dirx PA Brandt Particlevan den RA Goldbohm LH Lumey (2003) ArticleTitleEnergy restriction early in life and colon carcinoma risk: results of The Netherlands Cohort Study after 7.3 years of follow-up Cancer 97 46–55 Occurrence Handle10.1002/cncr.11052 Occurrence Handle12491504

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. R Bergstrom HO Adami M Mohner et al. (1996) ArticleTitleIncrease in testicular cancer incidence in six European countries: a birth cohort phenomenon J Natl Cancer Inst 88 727–733 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BymB3MjmtFc%3D Occurrence Handle8637026

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. EH Wanderas S Tretli SD Fossa (1995) ArticleTitleTrends in incidence of testicular cancer in Norway 1955–1992 Eur J Cancer 31 2044–2048 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0959-8049(95)00321-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. S Tretli M Gaard (1996) ArticleTitleLifestyle changes during adolescence and risk of breast cancer: an ecologic study of the effect of World War II in Norway Cancer Causes Control 7 507–512 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00051882 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByiD3s7ht1U%3D Occurrence Handle8877047

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. TE Robsahm S Tretli (2002) ArticleTitleBreast cancer incidence in food- vs non-food-producing areas in Norway: possible beneficial effects of World War II Br J Cancer 86 362–366 Occurrence Handle10.1038/sj.bjc.6600084 Occurrence Handle11875700

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. OG Hansen (1947) ArticleTitleFood conditions in Norway during the war 1939–45 Proc Nutr Soc 5 263–270

    Google Scholar 

  14. E Angell-Andersen S Tretli R Bjerknes et al. (2004) ArticleTitleThe association between nutritional conditions during World War II and childhood anthropometric variables in the Nordic countries Ann Hum Biol 31 IssueID3 342–355 Occurrence Handle10.1080/03014460410001685304 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD2czgt1SrtQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle15204349

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. E Vagane (1976) Some Peculiarities of Nutrition and Metabolism of the Population of Estonian S.S.R. Valgus Tallin

    Google Scholar 

  16. T Hakulinen A Andersen B Malker E Pukkala G Schou H Tulinius (1986) ArticleTitleTrends in cancer incidence in the Nordic countries. A collaborative study of the five Nordic Cancer Registries Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand Suppl 288 1–151 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiiD2crhtFU%3D Occurrence Handle3465196

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. K Lang M Mägi T Aareleid (2003) ArticleTitleStudy of completeness of registration at the Estonian cancer registry Eur J Cancer Prev 12 153–156 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00008469-200304000-00009 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3s7lsVCgtQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle12671539

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. D Clayton E Schifflers (1987) ArticleTitleModels for temporal variation in cancer rates. II: Age-period-cohort models Stat Med 6 469–481 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiiA3MbitFM%3D Occurrence Handle3629048

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. P McCullagh JA Nelder (1989) Generalized Linear Models Chapman & Hall London

    Google Scholar 

  20. TR Holford (1983) ArticleTitleThe estimation of age, period and cohort effects for vital rates Biometrics 39 311–324 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiuD38vovVM%3D Occurrence Handle6626659

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. GH Brundtland K Liestol L Walloe (1980) ArticleTitleHeight, weight and menarcheal age of Oslo schoolchildren during the last 60 years Ann Hum Biol 7 307–322 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:Bi6D28%2Fosl0%3D Occurrence Handle7436344

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. R Dubrow C Johansen T Skov TR Holford (1994) ArticleTitleAge-period-cohort modelling of large-bowel-cancer incidence by anatomic sub-site and sex in Denmark Int J Cancer 58 324–329 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByuA38jitlw%3D Occurrence Handle8050812

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. M Thorn R Bergstrom U Kressner P Sparen M Zack A Ekbom (1998) ArticleTitleTrends in colorectal cancer incidence in Sweden 1959-93 by gender, localization, time period, and birth cohort Cancer Causes Control 9 145–152 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1008826109697 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1c3jslCjsA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9578291

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. D Kritchevsky (2003) ArticleTitleDiet and cancer: what’s next? J Nutr 133 3827S–3829S Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXovFCltr0%3D Occurrence Handle14608121

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. MJ Dirx MP Zeegers PC Dagnelie BT den Particlevan PA Brandt Particlevan den (2003) ArticleTitleEnergy restriction and the risk of spontaneous mammary tumors in mice: a meta-analysis Int J Cancer 106 766–770 Occurrence Handle10.1002/ijc.11277 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXms1Wjsrs%3D Occurrence Handle12866038

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. V Laitinen P Lahermo P Sistonen ML Savontaus (2002) ArticleTitleY-chromosomal diversity suggests that Baltic males share common Finno-Ugric-speaking forefathers Hum Hered 53 68–78 Occurrence Handle10.1159/000057985 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XktVensLg%3D Occurrence Handle12037406

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. S Heikkinen (1996) Finnish Food Consumption 1860–1993 National Consumer Research Centre Publications Helsinki

    Google Scholar 

  28. L Suviranta (1998) Suomen sotalasten historiaa Hvyinvointikatsaus. Statistics Finland Helsinki 40–44

    Google Scholar 

  29. K Westlund (1966) ArticleTitleIncidence of diabetes mellitus in Oslo, Norway 1925 to 1954 Brit J Prev Soc Med 20 105–116

    Google Scholar 

  30. G McKeown-Eyssen (1994) ArticleTitleEpidemiology of colorectal cancer revisited: are serum triglycerides and/or plasma glucose associated with risk Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 3 687–695 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByqC1cjgslI%3D Occurrence Handle7881343

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. E Giovannucci (2001) ArticleTitleInsulin, insulin-like growth factors and colon cancer: a review of the evidence J Nutr 131 3109S–3120S Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXosVGitb4%3D Occurrence Handle11694656

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. E Giovannucci (1995) ArticleTitleInsulin and colon cancer Cancer Causes Control 6 164–179 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00052777 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByqB28jpsl0%3D Occurrence Handle7749056

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. D Gunnell M Okasha GD Smith SE Oliver J Sandhu JM Holly (2001) ArticleTitleHeight, leg length, and cancer risk: a systematic review Epidemiol Rev 23 313–342 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD38vjsFGltw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle12192740

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. ME Houdijk MT Engelbregt C Popp-Snijders HA Delemarrevander Waal (2003) ArticleTitleLong-term effects of early postnatal food restriction on growth hormone secretion in rats J Parenter Enteral Nutr 27 260–267 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXmt1WnsL8%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. SG Elias L Keinan-Boker PH Peeters et al. (2004) ArticleTitleLong term consequences of the 1944–1945 Dutch famine on the insulin-like growth factor axis Int J Cancer 108 628–630 Occurrence Handle10.1002/ijc.11584 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXjvFShug%3D%3D Occurrence Handle14696131

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. MJ Reed PE Penn Y Li et al. (1996) ArticleTitleEnhanced cell proliferation and biosynthesis mediate improved wound repair in refed, caloric-restricted mice Mech Ageing Dev 89 21–43 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0047-6374(96)01737-X Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BymH3MnhvFw%3D Occurrence Handle8819104

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. BL Stavola R Hardy D Kuh IS Silva M Wadsworth AJ Swerdlow (2000) ArticleTitleBirthweight, childhood growth and risk of breast cancer in a British cohort Br J Cancer 83 964–968 Occurrence Handle10.1054/bjoc.2000.1370 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3cvmvFejsg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10970703

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. D Albanes M Winick (1988) ArticleTitleAre cell number and cell proliferation risk factors for cancer? J Natl Cancer Inst 80 772–774 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BieB2MbisFE%3D Occurrence Handle3385783

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. JC Hardwick GR Brink ParticleVan Den GJ Offerhaus SJ Deventer ParticleVan MP Peppelenbosch (2001) ArticleTitleLeptin is a growth factor for colonic epithelial cells Gastroenterology 121 79–90 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXlt1ykt7w%3D Occurrence Handle11438496

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Z Liu T Uesaka H Watanabe N Kato (2001) ArticleTitleHigh fat diet enhances colonic cell proliferation and carcinogenesis in rats by elevating serum leptin Int J Oncol 19 1009–1014 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MrlvVSjtQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11605002

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. P Somasundar DW McFadden SM Hileman L Vona-Davis (2004) ArticleTitleLeptin is a growth factor in cancer J Surg Res 116 337–349 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.jss.2003.09.004 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXptFSltw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle15013374

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. P Stattin A Lukanova C Biessy et al. (2004) ArticleTitleObesity and colon cancer: does leptin provide a link? Int J Cancer 109 149–152 Occurrence Handle10.1002/ijc.11668 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXhs1Smurs%3D Occurrence Handle14735482

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. MJ Engelbregt MM Weissenbruch Particlevan C Popp-Snijders P Lips HA Delemarre-vande Waal (2001) ArticleTitleBody mass index, body composition, and leptin at onset of puberty in male and female rats after intrauterine growth retardation and after early postnatal food restriction Pediatr Res 50 474–478 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3Mrit1GmsQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11568290

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. A Singhal IS Farooqi S O’Rahilly TJ Cole M Fewtrell A Lucas (2002) ArticleTitleEarly nutrition and leptin concentrations in later life Am J Clin Nutr 75 993–999 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XktlSmsbs%3D Occurrence Handle12036804

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. E Giovannucci (2002) ArticleTitleModifiable risk factors for colon cancer Gastroenterol Clin North Am 31 925–943 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0889-8553(02)00057-2 Occurrence Handle12489270

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cancer Registry of Norway, Institute of Population-based Cancer Research, Montebello, N-0310, Oslo, Norway

    E. Svensson, B. Møller & S. Tretli

  2. National board of Health and Welfare, Stockholm, Sweden

    L. Barlow

  3. Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark

    G. Engholm

  4. Finnish Cancer Registry, Helsinki, Finland

    E. Pukkala

  5. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia

    M. Rahu

  6. Estonian Centre for Excellence in Behavioural and Health Sciences, Tallinn, Estonia

    M. Rahu

  7. Icelandic Cancer Registry, Reykjavik, Iceland

    L. Tryggvadóttir

Authors
  1. E. Svensson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B. Møller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Tretli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. L. Barlow
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. G. Engholm
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. E. Pukkala
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. M. Rahu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. L. Tryggvadóttir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to E. Svensson.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Svensson, E., Møller, B., Tretli, S. et al. Early life events and later risk of colorectal cancer: age-period-cohort modelling in the Nordic countries and Estonia. Cancer Causes Control 16, 215–223 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-004-3073-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-004-3073-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation