The Canadian Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 1, Issue 1, January 2013 ISSN 1927-8942 (Print Edition), ISSN 1927-8950 (Online Edition) Canad J Clin Nutr is published by Global Science Heritage, (http://www.globalscienceheritage.org), a registered publisher by the Library and Archives/Government of Canada, (www.collectionscanada.gc.ca) Page67 The Role of Folate on Colorectal Cancer in the Arabian Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: An Overview Mostafa I. Waly 1,2* , Yahya M. Al-Farsi 3,4 1 Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman. 2 Department of Nutrition, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt. 3 Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman. 4 Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, USA *Corresponding Author: Dr. Mostafa Waly. Email: waly.mostafa@gmail.com ABSTRACT Driven by the boom of wealth brought by oil discovery and production, the high rate of urbanization and a steady increase in the per capita income, during the past years, has improved the socio-economic status of the people in the Arabian Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC). This radical economic change has been accompanied by drastic changes in their lifestyle and food consumption patterns. During the past years, the regular consumption of traditional foods is being replaced with more Western-style and ready-made foods. In addition to adopting a sedentary life style in daily life and other related activities. According to National Health Survies in the GCC countries, high daily caloric intake, refined carbohydrates and protein were associated with increased risk of non- communicable diseases including colorectal cancer (CRC). The rate of CRC among GCC countries is in the rise; however, there is dearth of research exploring it. In particular, there is lack of research about role of folate on occurrence of CRC despite the recent flourishing scientific research papers from other parts of the world. Key words: Colorectal Cancer, Folate, Gulf Cooperation Countries. Waly MI,Al-Farsi YM. The Role of Folate on Colorectal Cancer in the Arabian Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: An Overview. Canad J Clin Nutr 2013; 1(1): 67-73. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14206/canad.j.clin.nutr.2013.01.07 INTRODUCTION Cancer is considered a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 7.6 million of all deaths from a total of 58 million deaths reported in year 2005 and the (WHO) estimates that there will be 20 million new cases and 12 million deaths from cancer alone by the year 2020 (1). Furthermore the WHO reported that in Western countries, the rate of colorectal cancer (CRC) has increased dramatically as compared to other types of cancers, and this increase was attributed to westernization in food choices and dietary pattern as well as adopting a Page 67-73