In order to examine the relationship between dietary sucrose intake and colorectal cancer, a case-control study was conducted in Uruguay in the time period 1992-1996.

In all, 289 cases and 564 controls, admitted for diagnosis or treatment in the 4 major hospitals in Montevideo, were considered eligible for the study.

Total sucrose intake was associated with a monotonic positive gradient of risks and the odds ratio (OR) for the uppermost quartile of intake was of 2.18 (95% confidence interval, CI, 1.35-3.51).

Glucose intake was associated with a small and non-significant increase in risk (OR 1.46, 95% CI 0.76-2.82).

Finally, an interaction between sucrose and protein intake was found, and the Odds Ratio for high intakes of sucrose and protein was 6.07.

De Stefani, E. et al. Int J Cancer 1998 Jan 5;75(1):40-4.