Sasaki et al enrolled 712 subjects to investigate the correlation between  colorectal cancer and adenoma and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or pancreatic disease (NAFPD). The participants did not consume alcohol and had undergone total colonoscopy as part of a health checkup. They were categorized into two groups: colorectal cancer and adenoma group with 236 patients; the patients in the second group did not have colorectal cancer and adenoma but had a history of polypectomy. This group of 439 patients acted as the control group. The diagnosis of NAFLD and NAFPD was based on abdominal ultrasound.

Nearly 60% of patients with colorectal cancer and adenoma had NAFLD, whereas 41.6% patients in the control group had NAFLD. No significant association was observed between NAFPD and colorectal cancer and adenoma. However, patients with colorectal cancer and adenoma had significantly lower levels of serum pancreatic amylase with odds ratio of 1.73. This association was independent of age, sex, obesity, current smoking, NAFLD and insulin resistance. These findings reported in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology suggest low serum P-amylase levels as a novel risk factor for colorectal cancer and adenoma.