COLORECTAL cancer (CRC) remains a major health concern globally, with numerous factors influencing its development, including diet. Identifying modifiable risk factors is key in addressing the increasing incidence of CRC, and dietary interventions offer a promising area for prevention. One such intervention, the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, promotes a balanced, nutrient-rich eating pattern that has been suggested to influence cancer risk. A recent study aimed to evaluate the relationship between adherence to the DASH diet and the risk of CRC, including its subtypes, colon and rectal cancers, by conducting a comprehensive meta-analysis of existing observational studies.
The meta-analysis involved a systematic review of studies published up until March 2025, sourced from databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed. The studies included in this analysis were observational in nature and specifically investigated the association between adherence to the DASH diet and CRC risk. Effect sizes (ESs) from fully adjusted models were extracted, and a random-effects model was used to combine these results. The analysis also assessed publication bias using Egger’s test and heterogeneity across studies with the I² statistic.
Fourteen studies were identified for inclusion in the meta-analysis. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in CRC risk for those who adhered to the DASH diet, with a relative risk (RR) of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.73–0.89). Further subgroup analyses showed that this effect was consistent across different cohort types and factors, with no publication bias detected. For rectal cancer, adherence to the DASH diet led to a risk reduction of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.66–0.86), particularly in males and cohort studies. Similarly, a reduction in colon cancer risk was noted (RR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.79–0.88), with stronger effects in males. Additionally, the DASH diet was associated with a significant reduction in colorectal adenoma risk (RR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.22–0.80).
In conclusion, the findings of this meta-analysis reinforce the potential benefits of the DASH diet in reducing CRC risk. These results support previous research and underline the importance of dietary interventions in clinical practice, especially in the prevention of colorectal cancer. However, while these results are promising, there are limitations, such as the observational nature of the included studies and the potential for residual confounding, which must be addressed in future research.
Reference
Abbasi MM et al. Association between adhering to a dietary approach to stop hypertension and risk of colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Gastroenterol. 2025;25(1):335
