Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and colorectal cancer risk: a large case control study in the Moroccan population

Abstract Objective: The Mediterranean diet (MD) is a dietary pattern associated with several health benefits, including reduction of risk for various cancers. We conducted a study to investigate associations between adherence to the MD and colorectal cancer (CRC) subtype risk among Moroccan adults...

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Main Authors: Khaoula El Kinany, Zineb Hatime, Achraf El Asri, Abdelilah Benslimane, Meimouna Deoula, Btissame Zarrouq, Pagona Lagiou, Karima El Rhazi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press
Series:Public Health Nutrition
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Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1368980025000199/type/journal_article
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author Khaoula El Kinany
Zineb Hatime
Achraf El Asri
Abdelilah Benslimane
Meimouna Deoula
Btissame Zarrouq
Pagona Lagiou
Karima El Rhazi
author_facet Khaoula El Kinany
Zineb Hatime
Achraf El Asri
Abdelilah Benslimane
Meimouna Deoula
Btissame Zarrouq
Pagona Lagiou
Karima El Rhazi
author_sort Khaoula El Kinany
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective: The Mediterranean diet (MD) is a dietary pattern associated with several health benefits, including reduction of risk for various cancers. We conducted a study to investigate associations between adherence to the MD and colorectal cancer (CRC) subtype risk among Moroccan adults. Design: A matched case-control study. Setting: The five major university hospitals in Morocco. Participants: A total of 3032 subjects (1516 CRC patients and 1516 controls) matched on age, sex and center, were recruited between September 2009 and February 2017 at five major hospitals in Morocco. Diet was assessed using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed through a score, ranging from 0 (no adherence) to 10 (maximal adherence) and divided into three categories (low, middle and high). Conditional logistic regression was performed to calculate multivariable odd ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) with low adherence (score 0-3) as referent, adjusting for potential confounding factors. Results: Close adherence to the Mediterranean diet (score 6-9) was associated with reduced risk of CRC (ORa = 0.74, 95% CI 0.63-0.86); rectal cancer (ORa = 0.73, 95% CI 0.58- 0.90) and colon cancer (ORa = 0.74, 95% CI 0.60-0.92). Conclusion: Our study, conducted in a southern Mediterranean population, adds to the evidence suggesting a protective effect of MD against CRC risk.
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spelling doaj-art-911e079c4ace439c98b2e2ca1a13562c2025-02-06T08:21:53ZengCambridge University PressPublic Health Nutrition1368-98001475-272712110.1017/S1368980025000199Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and colorectal cancer risk: a large case control study in the Moroccan populationKhaoula El Kinany0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2861-7224Zineb Hatime1Achraf El Asri2Abdelilah Benslimane3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5923-4843Meimouna Deoula4Btissame Zarrouq5Pagona Lagiou6Karima El Rhazi7Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques, Fez, Morocco. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and pharmacy of Fez, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco.Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and pharmacy of Fez, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco Email:Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques, Fez, Morocco. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and pharmacy of Fez, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco. Email:Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques, Fez, Morocco. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and pharmacy of Fez, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco. Email:Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and pharmacy of Fez, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco. Email:Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and pharmacy of Fez, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco. Department of Biology and Geology, Teachers Training College (Ecole Normale Superieure), Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco. Email:Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. Email:Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and pharmacy of Fez, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco Abstract Objective: The Mediterranean diet (MD) is a dietary pattern associated with several health benefits, including reduction of risk for various cancers. We conducted a study to investigate associations between adherence to the MD and colorectal cancer (CRC) subtype risk among Moroccan adults. Design: A matched case-control study. Setting: The five major university hospitals in Morocco. Participants: A total of 3032 subjects (1516 CRC patients and 1516 controls) matched on age, sex and center, were recruited between September 2009 and February 2017 at five major hospitals in Morocco. Diet was assessed using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed through a score, ranging from 0 (no adherence) to 10 (maximal adherence) and divided into three categories (low, middle and high). Conditional logistic regression was performed to calculate multivariable odd ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) with low adherence (score 0-3) as referent, adjusting for potential confounding factors. Results: Close adherence to the Mediterranean diet (score 6-9) was associated with reduced risk of CRC (ORa = 0.74, 95% CI 0.63-0.86); rectal cancer (ORa = 0.73, 95% CI 0.58- 0.90) and colon cancer (ORa = 0.74, 95% CI 0.60-0.92). Conclusion: Our study, conducted in a southern Mediterranean population, adds to the evidence suggesting a protective effect of MD against CRC risk. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1368980025000199/type/journal_articleMediterranean dietMediterranean diet scorecolorectal cancercase-controlMorocco
spellingShingle Khaoula El Kinany
Zineb Hatime
Achraf El Asri
Abdelilah Benslimane
Meimouna Deoula
Btissame Zarrouq
Pagona Lagiou
Karima El Rhazi
Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and colorectal cancer risk: a large case control study in the Moroccan population
Public Health Nutrition
Mediterranean diet
Mediterranean diet score
colorectal cancer
case-control
Morocco
title Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and colorectal cancer risk: a large case control study in the Moroccan population
title_full Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and colorectal cancer risk: a large case control study in the Moroccan population
title_fullStr Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and colorectal cancer risk: a large case control study in the Moroccan population
title_full_unstemmed Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and colorectal cancer risk: a large case control study in the Moroccan population
title_short Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and colorectal cancer risk: a large case control study in the Moroccan population
title_sort adherence to the mediterranean diet and colorectal cancer risk a large case control study in the moroccan population
topic Mediterranean diet
Mediterranean diet score
colorectal cancer
case-control
Morocco
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1368980025000199/type/journal_article
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