Assessment of Diet Quality and Adherence to Dietary Guidelines in Gastrointestinal Cancer Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Barbara L Van Leeuwen,Sara Moazzen,Francisco O Cortés-Ibañez,Behrooz Z Alizadeh,Geertruida H De Bock

doi:10.3390/nu12082232

Barbara L Van Leeuwen, Sara Moazzen + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12082232

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Abstract

Diet quality among short- and long-term gastrointestinal (GI) cancer survivors with different tumor sites was investigated compared to a reference population cohort. Diet quality of GI cancer survivors (n = 307) was compared to an age- and sex-matched reference population with no history of cancer (n = 3070). All were selected from Lifelines, a population-based cohort. GI cancers were defined as having a history of cancer of the bowel, esophagus, or stomach. Diet quality was assessed by a self-administrated food frequency questionnaire in terms of: (i) Lifelines Diet (LLD) scores, where higher scores indicate higher diet quality; (ii) the adherence to dietary guidelines, quantified by the percentage of meeting dietary recommendations, as given by Dutch dietary guidelines; and (iii) the mean daily intake of food components. All analyses were adjusted for lifestyle factors. Diet scores in GI cancer survivors were not different from the reference population (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.73–1.23). Stratification for time since diagnosis and tumor site gave similar results. The intake of vegetables, unsweetened dairies, and nuts and legumes was almost 50% lower than the recommended amount, and the mean intake of unhealthy food components was at least one serving/day among GI cancer survivors, as well as in the reference population. In the long run, GI cancer survivors do not differ from the reference population in their diet quality. In conclusion, both groups can improve their diet quality.

Highlights

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including bowel, gastric, and esophagus cancers, are among the most common malignant diseases worldwide, affecting over 3 million new individuals annually.In recent years, as a result of improvements in early diagnosis and the efficiency of therapies, there has been a constant increase in GI cancer survival rates in European countries [1]
GI cancer survivors had similar odds for having a high diet quality (LLD score ≥ 25) compared to the reference population (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.73 to 1.23)
GI cancer survivors stratified for time since diagnosis had no significant association with a high diet quality compared to the reference group (OR = 1.12, for ≤4 years, odds ratios (ORs) = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.52–1.26 for 5 to 9 years, and OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.60–1.46 for ≥10 years of time since diagnosis)

Summary

Introduction

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including bowel, gastric, and esophagus cancers, are among the most common malignant diseases worldwide, affecting over 3 million new individuals annually. As a result of improvements in early diagnosis and the efficiency of therapies, there has been a constant increase in GI cancer survival rates in European countries [1]. A diagnosis of GI cancer may have a large impact on a person’s lifestyle, and especially on diet. Difficulties in food ingestion/digestion following surgical treatment or routine chemo/radio therapies, as well as food restrictions, in patients with esophagus and gastric cancers, lead to the possibility of an undesired diet quality among GI cancer survivors [2,3]. It is known that a healthy diet will improve outcomes after a diagnosis of GI cancer [4].

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