Abstract
Oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation have been related to colorectal cancer (CRC), but the influence of the Mediterranean diet (MD) on these parameters is unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the association between adherence to the MD and markers of OS and DNA damage in CRC patients and to study the influence of adherence to the MD on metabolic and tumor-related factors. This prospective observational study included a total of 80 patients diagnosed with CRC. Adherence to the MD was estimated by the 14-item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) questionnaire. The levels of OS markers (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione system in serum; 8-oxo-7′8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine and F2-isoprotanes in urine) and tumor and metabolic factors were determined. A total of 51.2% of our CRC patients showed a high adherence to the MD. These patients presented decreased levels of 8-oxodG, increased GPX and HDL–cholesterol levels, and a downward trend in the GSSG/GSH ratio with respect to patients with low adherence to the MD. In addition, a high adherence to the MD was associated with a lower histological grade of the tumor and a lower presence of synchronous adenomas. We conclude that a high adherence to the MD has a protective role against metabolic and oxidative DNA damage and improves antioxidant systems in CRC patients.
Highlights
No significant differences were found in any of the anthropometric and biochemical parameters in relation to adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), with the exception of HDL–cholesterol, which was higher in patients with high adherence (p = 0.048)
We found that 51.25% of the patients (n = 41) showed high adherence to the MD, with a mean score of 10.5 compared to a score of 6.7 for patients with low adherence
We found no association with tumor stage, 61% of our participants with high adherence to the MD were in stage 0, and only 4.9% were in stage
Summary
Oxidative stress (OS), chronic inflammation and cancer are closely related. There is increasing evidence that chronic inflammation and associated OS induce DNA damage, thereby promoting a variety of human cancers [1]. Reactive oxygen species are potential carcinogens, as they can cause DNA oxidation and alterations in the expression of tumor suppressor genes and proto-oncogenes [2], favoring mutagenesis and tumor promotion and progression. An impaired redox status combined with an excessive production of Antioxidants 2022, 11, 499.
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