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typical Western diet may increase the risk of colon cancer in women A long-term, large-scale study has found a positive association between a typical Western diet (defined as one high in red meat, refined sugar, fatty foods, and refined grains) and the risk of colon cancer in women, according to an article in the February 10th issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. According to information given in the article, numerous studies have found associations between specific foods or nutrients and risk of colorectal cancer, but results have been inconsistent among different studies. More comprehensive eating patterns (that is, overall diet) have also been associated with risk of colon cancer and with fasting insulin level. Teresa Fung, Sc.D., and her American colleagues looked at associations between major dietary patterns and the risk of colon and rectal cancer in women with use of the database from the Nurses’ Health Study, a major U.S. study that began in 1976, eventually enrolling 121,700 women ages 30 to 55 years. For the current study, researchers used dietary information collected between 1984 and 1994 from 76,402 women ages 38 to 63 years who had no history of cancer in 1984. Two major dietary patterns were identified, called "prudent" and "Western." People classified as prudent eaters ate more fruit, vegetables, legumes, fish, poultry, and whole grains, whereas their Western counterparts consumed more processed and red meats, foods high in refined sugar, fried potatoes (French fries), and refined grains. During 12 years of follow-up, 445 cases of colon cancer and 101 cases of rectal cancer were diagnosed. Researchers observed a roughly 50 percent increase in risk for colon cancer in women ranked in the highest category of the Western diet pattern compared with those ranked in the lowest category of the Western diet pattern (the prudent diet). There were no associations between dietary patterns and rectal cancer. The authors wrote, "In conclusion, we found that a diet high
in red and processed meats, refined grains, and other characteristics
of the Western pattern was associated with a higher risk of colon
cancer in women. On the other hand, a diet high in whole grains,
fruits and vegetables and other characteristics of the prudent pattern
may be inversely associated with colon cancer. Our study provides
further evidence that switching from a typical Western diet to a
more prudent diet may reduce the risk of colon cancer." |