Diet and faecal genotoxicity.

There are many known DNA-damaging substances in the diet, but their relevance to the aetiology of colorectal cancer is not clear. The examination of faecal contents provides the best available non-invasive way of studying 'exposures' of the colorectal mucosa including those that are of dietary origin. In particular, faecal genotoxicity is studied as a potential intermediate In particular, faecal genotoxicity is studied as a potential intermediate between dietary genotoxins and colorectal cancer. About 100 investigations of the DNA-modifying effects of faeces have been published in the 10 years since Bruce et al first observed faecal mutagenicity in extracts of stool from four human volunteers. In this review, the studies relating to diet and faecal genotoxicity in humans are summarized. In addition, preliminary data are given from an investigation of diet and a potent class of faecal genotoxins, the fecapentaenes.