Purpose of Review This review summarizes a selection of epidemiologic research assessing the associations between carbohydrate intake and cancer incidence and survival. Evidence for plausible biological mechanisms is also considered. Recent Findings The mechanistic paradigm explaining the relationship between carbohydrates and cancer risk has been contested by numerous observational studies. Summary Carbohydrates have conventionally been ascribed a deleterious role in the field of cancer research due to previous preclinical findings. A breadth of studies suggests that complex carbohydrate intake is inversely associated with risk of a number of cancer types. Data from studies assessing simple carbohydrates and cancer risk are mixed. Furthermore, recommendations for subsequent studies are framed.
No studies, to date, have examined the relationship between dietary fiber and recurrence or survival after head and neck cancer diagnosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether pretreatment intake of dietary fiber or whole grains predicted recurrence and survival outcomes in newly diagnosed head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. This was a prospective cohort study of 463 participants baring a new head and neck cancer diagnosis who were recruited into the study prior to the initiation of any cancer therapy. Baseline (pre-treatment) dietary and clinical data were measured upon entry into the study cohort. Clinical outcomes were ascertained at annual medical reviews. Cox proportional hazard models were fit to examine the relationships between dietary fiber and whole grain intakes with recurrence and survival. There were 112 recurrence events, 121 deaths, and 77 cancer-related deaths during the study period. Pretreatment dietary fiber intake was inversely associated with risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR): 0.37, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.14–0.95, ptrend = 0.04). No statistically significant associations between whole grains and prognostic outcomes were found. We conclude that higher dietary fiber intake, prior to the initiation of treatment, may prolong survival time, in those with a new HNC diagnosis.
No studies, to date, have scrutinized the role of a priori dietary patterns on prognosis following a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) diagnosis. The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate the associations between adherence to six a priori defined diet quality indices (including AHEI-2010, aMED, DASH, and three low-carbohydrate indices) throughout the first 3 years of observation and all-cause and cancer-specific mortalities in 468 newly diagnosed HNSCC patients from the University of Michigan Head and Neck Specialized Program of Research Excellence (UM-SPORE). The dietary intake data were measured using a food frequency questionnaire administered at three annual time points commencing at study entry. Deaths and their causes were documented throughout the study using various data sources. Marginal structural Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the role of diet quality, as a time-varying covariate, on mortality. There were 93 deaths from all causes and 74 cancer-related deaths adjudicated throughout the observation period. There was a strong inverse association between adherence to the AHEI-2010, all-cause mortality (HRQ5–Q1:0.07, 95% CI:0.01–0.43, ptrend:0.04), and cancer-specific mortality (HRQ5–Q1:0.15, 95% CI:0.02–1.07, ptrend:0.04). Other more modest associations were noted for the low-carbohydrate indices. In sum, higher adherence to the AHEI-2010 and a plant-based low-carbohydrate index throughout the first 3 years since diagnosis may bolster survival and prognosis in newly diagnosed patients with HNSCC.
Dietary intake is understood to contribute to nutrition impact symptoms (NIS) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of four a priori-defined diet quality indices on the presence of NIS 1 year following diagnosis using data on 323 participants from the University of Michigan Head and Neck Specialized Program of Research Excellence (UM-SPORE). Pretreatment dietary intake was measured before treatment initiation using a food frequency questionnaire. NIS were measured along seven subdomains. Multivariable binary logistic regression models were constructed to evaluate relationships between pretreatment scores on a priori-defined diet quality indices (AHEI-2010, aMED, DASH, and a low-carbohydrate score) and the presence of individual symptoms in addition to a composite “symptom summary score” 1-year postdiagnosis. There were several significant associations between different indices and individual NIS. For the symptom summary score, there were significant inverse associations observed for aMED (ORQ5-Q1: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.14–0.88, ptrend = 0.04) and DASH (ORQ5-Q1: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.15–0.91, ptrend = 0.02) and the presence of NIS 1-year postdiagnosis. Higher adherence to the aMED and DASH diet quality indices before treatment may reduce NIS burden at 1-year postdiagnosis.
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