Better Diets Protect Against Left-Sided Colon Cancer

Previous studies of the relationship between diet and colorectal cancer (CRC) have largely involved only white patients. Now, investigators have examined this association in a multi-ethnic cohort, including whites, African Americans, Japanese Americans, Latinos, and native Hawaiians. To assess diet quality, the researchers used four quality indices that have been extensively studied for their association with disease risk.

CRC risk was reduced for men and women in the highest versus lowest healthy-eating quintiles across all four diet-quality indices. Healthy diets were beneficial for all ethnic and racial groups, although the benefits were less for African Americans. Improvements in CRC risk were confined to the left colon and rectum in all…