Early-life anthropometry and colorectal cancer risk in adulthood: Global Cancer Update Programme (CUP Global) systematic literature review and meta-analysis of prospective studies.

ABSTRACT: While adult anthropometric measures are well-studied in relation to colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, the impact of early-life anthropometry remains unclear. We conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis examining early-life anthropometry, including birth size, height and adiposity and adult CRC risk. We searched Medline, Embase, Web of Science and CENTRAL. Early-life stages were categorised as at birth, infancy (0 to <2 years), childhood (2 to 9 years), adolescence (10 to 19 years) and young adulthood (18 to 25 years). Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted when ≥3 prospective observational studies provided sufficient information; otherwise, results were descriptively synthesised. We included 37 publications, and evidence was graded by the Global Cancer Update Programme E

SUBMITTER: van Zutphen M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12280858 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature