Association Between Mycotoxin Exposure and Dietary Habits in Colorectal Cancer Development Among a Polish Population: A Study Protocol

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and lethal types of cancer worldwide. The developing of this disease includes many factors such as genetic, socioeconomic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, and nutrition habits. The aim of the study is the determination of zearalenone and its metabolite level in the biological samples of participants at risk of CRC, in relation to the nutrition data and information on the quality of life dependent on health. In the cohort clinical trial, 150 participants aged between 50 and 65 will be studied. The participants will be assigned into two groups depending on the colonoscopy result. Participants will be tested at dietary intake, quality of life, sleep time and quality, stress level as well as biochemical parameters of the blood. Moreover, in the biological samples, concentration of zearalenone and its metabolites (α-zearalenol and β-zearalenol) as well as the characteristics of gastrointestinal bacterial will be determined, and the end of the trial for both groups and their results will be compared. Taking into account the possible effect of mycotoxins and nutrition habits on the development of cancer, the results obtained may allow the formulation of new nutritional recommendations and reduce the development and occurrence of CRC.