Int J Cancer. 2013 Mar 15;132(6):1404-11.
Italian Mediterranean Index and risk of colorectal cancer in the Italian section of the EPIC cohort.
Agnoli C, Grioni S, Sieri S, Palli D, Masala G, Sacerdote C, Vineis P, Tumino R, Giurdanella MC, Pala V, Berrino F, Mattiello A, Panico S, Krogh V.
Source
Epidemiology and Prevention Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei
Tumori, Milan, Italy.
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is among the commonest cancers worldwide. Dietary factors have
been linked to colorectal cancer risk, however, few studies have evaluated the
relationship between a priori dietary patterns and colorectal cancer risk. We
evaluated the effect of adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern, as
measured by the Italian Mediterranean Index, on the risk of colorectal cancer in
the 45,275 participants of the Italian section of the EPIC study who completed a
dietary questionnaire. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs)
for colorectal cancer in relation to categories of Italian Mediterranean Index
score were estimated by multivariate Cox models adjusted for known risk factors,
on the whole cohort, on men and women and according to cancer subsite. During a
mean follow-up of 11.28 years, 435 colorectal cancer cases were identified. The
Italian Mediterranean Index was inversely associated with colorectal cancer risk
(HR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.35-0.71 for the highest category compared to the lowest,
P-trend: 0.043). Results did not differ by sex. Highest Italian Mediterranean
Index score was also significantly associated with reduced risks of any colon
cancer (HR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.36-0.81), distal colon cancer (HR: 0.44, 95% CI:
0.26-0.75) and rectal cancer (HR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.20-0.81), but not of proximal
colon cancer. These findings suggest that adherence to a Mediterranean diet (as
measured by the Italian Mediterranean Index) protects against colorectal cancer
in general but not against cancer developing in the proximal colon.
Copyright © 2012 UICC.
PMID: 22821300 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]