Nutritional Adequacy and Diet Quality in Colorectal Cancer Patients Postsurgery: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Recent evidence has shown that an unhealthy diet is associated with a higher risk of tumor recurrence, metastasis, and death among patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The aims of this study were to assess nutritional adequacy and diet quality in a group of CRC patients postsurgery and to identify possible associations between dietary and nutritional aspects and environmental factors and weight status. This was an observational study conducted on a random sample of 74 patients, aged 50-69 years. Dietary intake was evaluated utilizing a validated frequency questionnaire, and diet quality was evaluated utilizing the Healthy Eating Index for Spanish Diet and the MedDietScore. Data regarding socioeconomic, demographic, lifestyles, dietary supplements use, and body mass index were collected. Subjects followed a diet characterized by a low carbohydrate intake (94% of the cases), excessive protein (48%), high fat intake (67%), and some micronutrient deficiencies. The inadequacy of some nutrients was associated with male gender, overweight/obesity, smoking, and low educational level; and low adherence to the MedDiet was identified in those with a low educational level (adjusted odds ratio = 4.16, P < 0.05). Therefore, such patients should be an important target group when applying educational programs and giving individualized nutritional advice to improve their quality of life.

Food groups, diet quality and colorectal cancer risk in the Basque Country

“…Diets were assessed using a short FFQ that was a modified version of the Rodríguez et al[ 17 ] (2008) questionnaire. This adaptation was validated with multiple 24-h recalls in the Basque general population[ 18 ] and in CRC diagnosed patients in a pilot of the present study[ 19 ]. It consists of 67 items and requires the subjects to recall the number of times each food item was consumed either per week or per month.…”

“…Adherence to the dietary recommendations was evaluated utilizing the Healthy Eating Index for Spanish Diet (HEISD)[ 26 ] and the MedDietScore (MDS)[ 27 ], as previously described[ 19 ]. The theoretical range of the HEISD is 0-100 and of the MDS 0-55, higher values of these scores indicate greater adherence to the dietary recommendations for the Spanish population and the Mediterranean diet pattern, respectively.…”

Single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with susceptibility for development of colorectal cancer: Case-control study in a Basque population

“…questionnaire[19]. This adaptation was validated with multiple 24- recalls in a subsample of the participants[20]. It consists of 67 items and requires the subjects to recall the number of times each food item was consumed either per week or per month.…”

Gene–Diet Interactions in Colorectal Cancer: Survey Design, Instruments, Participants and Descriptive Data of a Case–Control Study in the Basque Country

“…With this information, the participants were categorized into those who did and did not meet the recommendations [ 62 ]. Finally, adherence to the dietary recommendations was evaluated utilizing the Healthy Eating Index for Spanish Diet (HEISD) [ 63 ] and the MedDietScore (MDS) [ 64 ], as previously explained [ 38 ]. The theoretical range of the HEISD is 0–100 and of the MDS 0–55; higher values of these scores indicate greater adherence to the dietary recommendations for the Spanish population and the Mediterranean diet pattern, respectively.…”

“…Diets were assessed using a self-reported SFFQ that was a modified version of the Rodríguez et al [36] questionnaire. This adaptation was validated with multiple 24-h recalls in the Basque general population [37] and in CRC-diagnosed patients in a pilot of the present study [38]. It consisted of 67 items and requires the subjects to recall the number of times each food item was consumed either per week or per month.…”