The results of a large study involving more than half a million women. What do EKPA experts say?
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the world, as it is diagnosed in more than 1.9 million people every year. However, the incidence is proportionally higher in the economically developed countries of the West.
In addition, there has been an increase in the number of people migrating from developing countries to developed countries in just ten years, which indicates that lifestyle factors are also involved in its development.
One of the most important of these factors is diet, with factors such as alcohol consumption and processed meat believed to play an important role. But they are not alone.
International group of scientists It was recently published in the scientific journal Nature Communications study looking at how colon cancer is related to diet as a whole.
Especially researchers examined the relationship of 97 dietary factors with the risk of developing the disease in 521,778 women. During a follow-up period of 16.6 yearscolon cancer was detected in 12,251 of them.
Findings
as explained by Doctors of EKPA Therapeutic Clinic at Alexandra Hospital Dr. Maria Capareloupathologist-oncologist, Theodora Psaltopoulou, pathologist, professor of the Department of Therapeutic-Epidemiology-Prophylactic Medicine and Thanos Dimopoulost. Rector of EKPA, Professor of the Department of Therapeutic-Oncology-Hematology, Director of the Therapeutic Clinic, researchers analyzed the diet of women through questionnaires about the frequency of food and drink consumption.
Participants were divided into different groups based on their eating habits. Factors such as consumption of meat, vegetables, fruits, grains, alcohol and other foods were also investigated. As the researchers found:
- When consumed in large quantities, the risk of developing colon cancer increases red and processed meat
- Consumption fruits and vegetables was associated with reduced risk
- High consumption vegetable fibers (eg, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes) were associated with reduced risk
- The rich saturated fat diet showed a strong correlation with an increased risk of developing colon cancer.
- Consumption dairy productsn (especially low-fat) appeared to play a protective role
- Average consumption fish and plant proteins (eg, legumes, nuts) showed a small but statistically significant reduction in risk
- Colorectal cancer does not appear to be affected by consumption coffee or teay
- Consumption alcohol has been confirmed as a risk factor
- other factors such as consumption healthy fatsdid not significantly affect the risk of developing the disease
What do they mean?
Doctors say these findings highlight the critical role of diet in reducing or increasing the risk of colon cancer.
They also suggest that there may be effective strategies to protect against it:
- Include fiber in your daily diet
- Avoid red meat and saturated fat
In addition, “the analysis provides information that can be used to shape public health guidelines,” they said.
However, “the researchers emphasize the need for further research and note that dietary patterns should be examined in conjunction with other risk factors to fully understand the relationship between diet and colon cancer,” they said.