Healthy Diet Linked to Lower Cancer Risk

A French prospective population-based cohort study suggests that healthy diet by following dietary recommendations could significantly contribute to cancer prevention. The study investigated the associations between several nutritional scores and overall, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer risk in a large prospective population-based cohort. The study included 41,543 participants aged ≥40 years (2009–2017). A total of 1,489 overall incident cancers were diagnosed. The cancer-specific World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) score performed best. A one-point increment of the WCRF/AICR score was significantly associated with decreased overall (12%), breast (14%), and prostate (12%) cancer risks. Hazard ratio for colorectal cancer risk was 0.86. Compared with other tested scores, the WCRF/AICR score included a stronger penalty for alcohol, which is a major risk factor for several cancers. A diet packed with whole grains, vegetables, fruits and beans but not rely on dietary supplements with limited alcohol, fast food, red and processed meats, and sugary drinks is recommended. Infants should be breastfed wherever possible. In addition to not smoking, being physically active and maintaining a healthy weight are among the most important behaviors for avoiding cancer. Better adherence to healthy lifestyle could substantially contribute to decreased cancer incidence. Source: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/