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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Mar 1.
Published in final edited form as: Curr Nutr Rep. 2012 Nov 6;2(1):48–55. doi: 10.1007/s13668-012-0031-1

Table 2.

Major results of dietary quality scores and colorectal cancer

Study (yr) Study type/ population No. of cases Diet quality score characteristics Major results
Romaguera et al. [23••] Prospective cohort 3,880 CRC Based on following the WCRD/AICR recommendations: body fatness, PA, food, and drink that promote weight gain, plant foods, animal foods, alcohol, and breastfeeding. Higher score = higher concordance. 1-point increment of score assoc w/ 12% risk reduction for colorectal cancer (95% CI: 9-16%)
9 European countries (EPIC study) Men had a range of 0-6, women 0-7 (breastfeeding)
Turati et al. [28] Case control 1,953 colorectal cancer cases (1,225 colon, 728 rectal) Based on European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) guidelines: total CHO, total fats, fiber, Linoleic FA, alpha-Linolenic FA, EPA plus DHA. A score of 1 was given for adherence; 0 for non-adherence (total range 0-6) ORs for CRC = 1.04; 95% CI: 0.67-1.61
Italy Comparison between 6 points with score of 1
Agnoli et al. [30] Case control 435 colorectal cancer cases (325 colon, 109 rectal) Italian Mediterranean Index, 11 items: high intakes of pasta, typical Mediterranean vegetables, fruits, legumes, olive oil, and fish, moderate alcohol intake, and low intakes of soft drinks, butter, red meat, and potatoes. Score ranged 0-11. CRC: HR = 0.5; 95% CI: 0.35-0.71
Italy Colon cancer: HR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.36-0.81
Distal colon cancer: HR = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.26-0.85
Rectal cancer: HR = 0.41; 95% CI: 0.20-0.81
Comparison between score 6-11 vs score 0-1
Kyrø et al. [33] Prospective cohort 1,025 colorectal cancer cases. (665 colon, 360 rectal) Healthy Nordic Food Index: fish, cabbage, rye bread, oatmeal, apples and pears, and root vegetables. Score ranged from 0-6. 1 point was given for an intake equal to or greater than the sex-specific median for each food category. Women: IRR = 0.65; 95% CI: 0.46-0.94
Denmark (Diet, Cancer, and Health Cohort Study) Men: IRR = 0.87; 95% CI: 61-1.25)
Comparison between 5 or 6 points vs 0-1 point
Kontou et al. [31] Case control 250 colorectal cancer cases Modified-MedDietScore: non-refined cereals, potatoes, fruits, vegetables, legumes, fish, meat and meat products, poultry, full-fat dairy products, use of olive oil in cooking, Alcoholic beverages, number of meals per day, coffee intake, use of nonstick cookware, and use of table salt after cooking. Score ranged from 0-75. For each unit increase in score, OR = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.84-0.94
Greece

WCRD/AICR, World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research