New research may expand on existing evidence that a healthy diet may protect against gastrointestinal cancers and improve disease outcomes, according to a recent study published by Abebe et al in the European Journal of Nutrition.
Background
Gastrointestinal cancers including esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, small bowel, colorectal, and anal cancers are responsible for about 25% of all cancer cases and 33% of all cancer-related deaths globally.
As a result of the alarming increase in the number of patients younger than age 50 receiving colorectal cancer diagnoses, researchers have urged individuals to increase their fiber intake and improve their eating habits to reduce their risk of potentially fatal gastrointestinal cancers.
“We’ve identified many direct links between poor diet choices and [gastrointestinal] cancers,” stressed senior study author Yohannes Melaku, MSc, PhD, MPH, of the Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute.
Study Findings
In the recent study, the researchers discovered that diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, legumes, and dairy were potentially protective against gastrointestinal cancers. The findings supported the World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research guidelines that advocate for diets rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and legumes—while limiting red and processed meats, sugary drinks, and processed foods.
“Our findings not only reinforce established guidelines but also highlight dietary choices that can proactively protect against this disease such as upping your fiber intake. Having a healthy diet is one of the simplest ways to improve our overall health and reduce the risk of diseases including cancers. Importantly, we found that a diet high in healthy fats and vegetables [while] limiting the consumption of sugars and alcohol could potentially reduce the risk of [colorectal] and other cancers,” suggested Dr. Melaku. “Unhealthy dietary patterns, marked by high consumption of red and processed meats, fast foods, refined grains, alcohol and sugary beverages, present a worrying relationship with an increased risk of [gastrointestinal] cancers. Notably, we found that high-fiber foods such as fruits and vegetables promote healthy gut bacteria that can reduce inflammation. The emphasis on fiber and healthy fats should be an integral part of everyone’s diet,” he emphasized.
Conclusions
Although there is growing evidence that dietary interventions can be effective at preventing or delaying some diseases, the researchers noted that further trials may be needed to investigate the impact that diet has on cancers. They underlined that diet is just one aspect of an individual’s overall health and well-being.
“As awareness around [colorectal] cancer grows, our research serves as a timely reminder of the power of nutrition in disease prevention. By adhering to healthy eating practices, we can take proactive steps in safeguarding our long-term health. With the growing number of [gastrointestinal] cancers, such as [colorectal] cancer, being diagnosed worldwide, and increasingly in people under 50 years old, it’s time for action to protect [individuals’] digestive health,” highlighted Dr Melaku. “Our [study] demonstrates that nutrition education and promoting healthy eating patterns could be pivotal in reducing [gastrointestinal] cancer risks and improving patient outcomes,” he continued.
“[While] our results are promising, more work needs to be done with a greater focus on nutrition in clinical settings using nutritional biomarkers to better understand the relationship between diet and [gastrointestinal] cancer,” underscored co–study author Amy Reynolds, PhD, Associate Professor at Flinders University. “We need to understand how different dietary patterns may influence the risk of developing [gastrointestinal] cancers. We also want to see an increase in education around healthy eating, which could lead to better health outcomes for those at risk for [gastrointestinal] cancers,” she concluded.
Disclosure: For full disclosures of the study authors, visit link.springer.com.
