Dietary Patterns and Colorectal Cancer Prevention: Current Evidence and Public Health Implications

Abstract

Objective: To synthesize evidence on dietary patterns and colorectal cancer incidence and discuss its public health implications.
Methods: A narrative review of 15 previously collected full-text documents compared systematic reviews, prospective studies, randomized controlled trials, and institutional reports.
Results: Higher overall diet quality, Mediterranean diets, and healthful plant-based diets were associated with lower incidence, although findings varied by sex, pattern definition, and study population. Proinflammatory and hyperinsulinemic dietary patterns were associated with higher risk, whereas a randomized trial of a low-fat dietary pattern found no significant preventive effect.
Conclusion: Current evidence supports improving overall diet quality by increasing whole grains and other fiber-rich foods, limiting processed meat, red meat, and alcohol, and improving access to healthy foods. The causal effects of specific patterns and the effectiveness of local implementation require further evaluation.