Study of the Associations between the Food Insecurity and Colorectal Polyps in People Over 50 in Isfahan City

Food insecurity is defined as the limited or uncertain availability of enough foods for permanent activities and healthy life. Colorectal polyps, as precursors of colon cancer, can lead to individual and social damages in the patient’s life. The aim of this study was to assess associations between the food insecurity and colorectal polyps in people over 50 in Isfahan city, Iran.

Totally, 80 patients with colorectal polyps referred to a private gastrointestinal clinic as cases and 80 healthy people referred to a health center as control were recruited in this study. Patients were recently diagnosed (4 m) using colonoscopy. They were individually matched for age, sex and residential areas. The socioeconomic general and household food insecurity access Scale questionnaires were completed. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS Software.

In this study, positively significant relationships were detected between the food insecurity and colorectal polyps as prevalence of food insecurity was 58.8% in patients and 45% in healthy people. In addition, education, presence of under 18 years-old children in households and supplement consumption were associated to the disease and the most relevant factor was the supplement consumption (p < 0.05).

Food insecurity was one of the important risk factors for colorectal polyps that health care providers should consider. Moreover, low education level, prevalence of under 18 years-old children in households and no supplementation increased the risk of disease.