SynthesisBMC gastroenterology2026
Association between mercury levels and colorectal cancer: a systematic review, meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC gastroenterology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThis study examines how mercury (Hg) levels may be linked to colorectal cancer (CRC) by reviewing and analyzing existing research. It is important to understand this connection because mercury may cause cancer.
methodsWe searched PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies published up to January 2026. We included observational studies evaluating mercury levels in patients with CRC compared with healthy controls or non-cancerous colorectal tissue, as well as studies assessing the association between mercury exposure and colorectal cancer. We analyzed the data using a random-effects model. Mercury levels were measured in subgroups within both the case and control groups to address differences in measurement methods. We assessed the quality of the included studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. All data were analyzed with STATA version 17.
resultsThis meta-analysis reviewed 8 studies selected from 1,099 database records. Four studies with 773 participants (355 cases and 418 controls) found no significant difference in mercury levels between people with colorectal cancer and healthy controls (SMD: 0.16 [-0.22, 0.54]; p = 0.42; I²: 82.25%). Subgroup analysis showed differences depending on study design, average age, percentage of male participants, and risk of bias score. Meta-regression found that participant age affected the results, while other factors did not. In two studies with 71 participants, there was also no significant difference in mercury levels between colorectal and healthy tissues in patients with colorectal cancer (SMD: -0.24 [-1.11, 0.64]; p = 0.60; I²: 76.68%), despite high variability across studies.
conclusionOur review found no significant link between mercury levels and CRC risk, underscoring the complexity of environmental toxins in cancer etiology and the need for further research on influencing factors.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.