Identifying metabolomic mediators of the physical activity and colorectal cancer relationship.

Abstract

Background: Current evidence suggests higher physical activity (PA) levels are associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the mediating role of the circulating metabolome in this relationship remains unclear.

Methods: Targeted metabolomics data from 6,055 participants in the EPIC cohort were used to identify metabolites associated with PA and derive a metabolomic signature of PA levels. PA levels were estimated using the validated Cambridge PA index based on baseline questionnaires. Mediation analyses were conducted in a nested case-control study (1,585 cases, 1,585 controls) to examine whether individual metabolites and the metabolomic signature mediated the PA-CRC association.

Results: PA was inversely associated with CRC risk (odds ratio [OR] per category change: 0.90, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.83, 0.97; p-value = 0.009). PA levels were associated with 24 circulating metabolites after false discovery rate correction (FDR), with the strongest associations observed for phosphatidylcholine acyl-alkyl (PC ae) C34:3 (FDR-adjusted p-value = 1.18 × 10⁻¹⁰) and lysophosphatidylcholine acyl (lysoPC a) C18:2 (FDR-adjusted p-value = 1.35 × 10⁻⁶). PC ae C34:3 partially mediated the PA-CRC association (natural indirect effect: 0.991, 95% CI: 0.982, 0.999; p-value = 0.04), explaining 7.4% of the association. No mediation effects were observed for the remaining metabolites or the overall PA metabolite signature.

Conclusions: PC ae C34:3 mediates part of the PA-CRC inverse association, but further studies with improved PA measures and extended metabolomic panels are needed.

Impact: These findings provide insights into PA-related biological mechanisms influencing CRC risk and suggest potential targets for cancer prevention interventions.