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Circulating B-vitamin biomarkers and B-vitamin supplement use in relation to quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer: Results from the FOCUS consortium

  • Janna L. Koole
  • , Martijn J.L. Bours
  • , Anne J.M.R. Geijsen
  • , Biljana Gigic
  • , Arve Ulvik
  • , Dieuwertje E. Kok
  • , Stefanie Brezina
  • , Jennifer Ose
  • , Andreas Baierl
  • , Jürgen Böhm
  • , Hermann Brenner
  • , Stéphanie O. Breukink
  • , Jenny Chang-Claude
  • , Fränzel J.B. Van Duijnhoven
  • , Peter Van Duijvendijk
  • , Tanja Gumpenberger
  • , Nina Habermann
  • , Henk K. Van Halteren
  • , Michael Hoffmeister
  • , Andreana N. Holowatyj
  • Maryska L.G. Janssen-Heijnen, Eric T.P. Keulen, Rama Kiblawi, Flip M. Kruyt, Christopher I. Li, Tengda Lin, Øivind Midttun, Anita R. Peoples, Eline H. Van Roekel, Martin A. Schneider, Petra Schrotz-King, Alexis B. Ulrich, Kathy Vickers, Evertine Wesselink, Johannes H.W. De Wilt, Andrea Gsur, Per M. Ueland, Cornelia M. Ulrich, Ellen Kampman, Matty P. Weijenberg

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Background: B vitamins have been associated with the risk and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC), given their central roles in nucleotide synthesis and methylation, yet their association with quality of life in established CRC is unclear. Objectives: To investigate whether quality of life 6 months postdiagnosis is associated with: 1) circulating concentrations of B vitamins and related biomarkers 6 months postdiagnosis; 2) changes in these concentrations between diagnosis and 6 months postdiagnosis; 3) B-vitamin supplement use 6 months postdiagnosis; and 4) changes in B-vitamin supplement use between diagnosis and 6 months postdiagnosis. Methods: We included 1676 newly diagnosed stage I-III CRC patients from 3 prospective European cohorts. Circulating concentrations of 9 biomarkers related to the B vitamins folate, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and cobalamin were measured at diagnosis and 6 months postdiagnosis. Information on dietary supplement use was collected at both time points. Health-related quality of life (global quality of life, functioning scales, and fatigue) was assessed by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire 6 months postdiagnosis. Confounder-adjusted linear regression analyses were performed, adjusted for multiple testing. Results: Higher pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) was cross-sectionally associated with better physical, role, and social functioning, as well as reduced fatigue, 6 months postdiagnosis. Associations were observed for a doubling in the hydroxykynurenine ratio [3-hydroxykynurenine: (kynurenic acid + xanthurenic acid + 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid + anthranilic acid); an inverse marker of vitamin B6] and both reduced global quality of life (β = -3.62; 95% CI: -5.88, -1.36) and worse physical functioning (β = -5.01; 95% CI: -7.09, -2.94). Dose-response relations were observed for PLP and quality of life. No associations were observed for changes in biomarker concentrations between diagnosis and 6 months. Participants who stopped using B-vitamin supplements after diagnosis reported higher fatigue than nonusers. Conclusions: Higher vitamin B6 status was associated with better quality of life, yet limited associations were observed for the use of B-vitamin supplements. Vitamin B6 needs further study to clarify its role in relation to quality of life.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1468-1481
JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Volume113
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2021
Externally publishedYes

Funding

JLK is funded by Kankeronderzoekfonds Limburg as part of Health Foundation Limburg (Grant No. 00005739). EHvR is funded by the Wereld Kanker Onderzoek Fonds (WKOF), as part of the World Cancer Research Fund International grant program (grant number 2016/1620). ANH was supported by the Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the National Institutes of Health under Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award T32 HG008962 from the National Human Genome Research Institute. JO, JB, ANH, RK, TL, ARP, and CMU, who are investigators at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, were supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute (U01CA206110, R01CA189184 and R01 CA207371 to CMU), the Stiftung LebensBlicke, and the Huntsman Cancer Foundation. CMU formally oversees research funded by several pharmaceutical companies as Executive Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Huntsman Cancer Institute (Salt Lake City, UT); however, she does not direct those research efforts and has not received funding directly herself that would constitute a conflict to the current work. MJLB, AJMRG, BG, AU, DEK, SB, AB, HB, SOB, JC-C, FJBvD, PvD, TG, NH, HKvH, MH, MLGJ-H, ETPK, FMK, CIL, ØM, MAS, PS-K, ABU, KV, EW, JHWdW, AG, PMU, EK, and MPW, no conflicts of interest.

FundersFunder number
Stiftung LebensBlicke
National Institutes of HealthT32 HG008962
National Human Genome Research Institute
National Cancer InstituteR01 CA207371, R01CA189184, U01CA206110
National Institute of Child Health and Human DevelopmentK12HD043483
Association de Recherche sur la Polyarthrite
Huntsman Cancer Foundation
Canadian Mennonite University
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
World Cancer Research Fund International2016/1620
Ahmadu Bello University
Wereld Kanker Onderzoek Fonds
Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University

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