Association between adherence to a dietary approach to stop hypertension and the Mediterranean diets and risk of colorectal cancer: A matched case-control study

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers and is currently the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate whether the dietary approach to stop hypertension (DASH) and Mediterranean (MED) diets are associated with CRC in Iranian adults. This hospital-based case-control study was conducted on 71 cases and 142 controls (40-75 years old) in three general hospitals in Tehran, Iran. The dietary intakes of individuals were collected through face-to-face interviews using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) that included 125 food items. The DASH and MED diet scores were calculated according to food items based on guidelines. Two logistic regression models were applied to evaluate the association between DASH and MED score adherence. After adjusting for confounding factors, a negative association between DASH diet adherence and CRC risk was observed in the second and last tertile compared to the first tertile (T) (T2: odds ratio (OR)=0.33; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.14-0.77 - T3: OR=0.09; 95% CI: 0.03-0.27). There was no significant association between the MED diet and the risk of CRC. In conclusion, the current study's findings presented that adherence to a DASH diet could reduce the odds of CRC.