Association Between Red and Processed Meat Intake and Colorectal Adenoma Incidence and Recurrence: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The associations between red and processed meat intake and colorectal adenoma (CRA) incidence and recurrence are inconclusive. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to analysis these associations. We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science up to December 2016. The relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were assessed. Subgroup analyses, dose-response-analyses, subtype analyses and analyses of CRA locations were also conducted. Twenty-seven studies that involved 208,117 participants and 19,150 cases met criteria. The RRs of the highest versus lowest intakes for CRA incidence were 1.23 (1.15-1.31) for red meat and 1.15 (1.07-1.24) for processed meat. Dose-response analyses for meat per 100 g/day yielded the results were consistent with the original analyses, with 1.14 (1.07-1.20) for red meat and 1.27 (1.03-1.50) for processed meat. Additionally, there were no associations between red and processed meat intake and CRA recurrence, including total CRA (P > 0.05), advanced CRA (P > 0.05) and multiple CRA (P > 0.05). In conclusion, our findings support the hypothesis that red and processed meat intake was associated with an increased CRA incidence but not for CRA recurrence.