More Fruit, Less Meat to Reduce Colon Cancer Risk

Eating more fruit and less meat may help prevent precancerous colon polyps, according to the results of a new study.

Researchers from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill explained that recent evidence suggests overall dietary patterns, rather than specific dietary components, may be a better predictor of colorectal adenomas or cancers.

The scientists used cluster analysis to assess the association between dietary patterns and colorectal adenomas and determine whether adjusting for total energy consumption prior to creating clusters affects this relation.

Data from a case-control study of 725 individuals undergoing a colonoscopy was used; 203 patients had at least one adenoma or colonoscopy, 522 patients (the controls) had no adenomas. Dietary data was obtained from a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).

Researchers calculated the daily intake for 18 different food groups and transformed the values into Z-scores. Participants were first clustered without energy adjustment, then again based on their consumption per 1,000 kcal (4,187 kJ).

Researchers found that there was no association between dietary patterns and colorectal adenomas without energy adjustment prior to creating dietary clusters, as clusters formed as a by-product of energy consumption. However, after adjusting for energy consumption, three distinct clusters emerged: 1) high fruit-low meat cluster; 2) high vegetable-moderate meat cluster and; 3) high meat cluster.

The study revealed that after adjusting for potential confounders, the high vegetable-moderate meat cluster and high meat cluster were at significantly increased odds of having had an adenoma compared with the high fruit-low meat cluster. A high-fruit, low-meat diet appears to be protective against colorectal adenomas compared with a dietary pattern of increased vegetable and meat consumption.

Researchers suggested that individuals eat more fruit, less meat and continue eating recommended allowances of vegetables. This in light of a recent report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which stated that less than one third of Americans are getting the recommended daily allowances of fruits and vegetables.

Integrative therapies with strong or good scientific evidence in the prevention and/or treatment of colon cancer include vitamin A (retinol), probiotics, psychotherapy and selenium