FABP4 and diabetes mellitus: After exclusion of participants with diabetes, the positive association between FABP-4 and CRC risk in women was slightly attenuated and statistically non-significant (RR in the multivariable-adjusted model per SD 1.05, 95% CI 0.92, 1.19), while after exclusion of cases diagnosed within the first 2 years of follow-up (and their matched controls) point estimates remained statistically significant (RR per SD 1.17, 95% CI 1.03, 1.34, Additional file 1, Tab.