Dietary patterns were associated with colorectal cancer risk in Asian populations
A review of cohort studies linked healthy dietary patterns with lower colon cancer risk and high total meat intake with higher colorectal cancer risk.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review found associations between diet and cancer risk in Asian populations, with results differing by dietary exposure and cancer site. Healthy dietary patterns were linked to lower colon cancer risk, while high total meat consumption was linked to higher colorectal cancer risk. These cohort studies cannot establish that diet caused those differences.
The abstract does not define dietary patterns, reference diets, intake amounts or follow-up periods. It also does not report which other factors were accounted for in the pooled associations.
What researchers found
Colon cancer risk
Relative risk for healthy dietary patterns versus unspecified reference diets; follow-up unreported. This compares risks between groups. Baseline risks are unavailable, so the absolute difference cannot be determined.
Cancer sites matter
The healthy-pattern result concerned colon cancer specifically. Other analyses addressed colorectal cancer overall or rectal cancer. Keeping these endpoints separate avoids presenting a finding for a particular site as applying equally to all colorectal cancer outcomes.
Some associations were less clear
The confidence intervals for calcium and white meat reached the value indicating no association. This abstract-based explanation therefore cannot support firm protective claims for calcium or a definite harmful effect of white meat.
The original publication
Dietary factors and colorectal cancer risk in Asian populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.
Lee H, Ngoun L, Min S et al.
Cancer Causes Control · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40866745
- Record checked
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