Adherence to a healthy dietary pattern is associated with reduced risk of endometrial cancer: evidence from a meta-analysis with 2617 cases and 78082 participants/controls

Background: Compared with investigating single food or nutrient effects, an assessment of whole diet using dietary patterns might be a more appropriate method to explore the combinatorial effects of dietary factors on health outcomes. Studying the association between dietary patterns and risk of endometrial cancer (EC) is an emerging literature; however, the results from published studies are not entirely conclusive. The current meta-analysis was conducted to comprehensively elucidate these associations. Methods: Pertinent studies published prior to September 2016 were systematically searched and retrieved through PubMed and Scopus databases. The most common dietary patterns with high loadings of foods or nutrients were selected and the most adjusted risk estimates were derived by comparing the highest with the lowest categories of dietary pattern scores. Data were pooled using random-effects model when heterogeneity was significant; otherwise, the fixed-effects model was applied. Statistical analysis was performed by STATA (version 14). Results: A total of 5 studies, including 2617 cases and 78082 participants/controls were included in this meta-analysis. Adherence to a healthy dietary pattern, featured by a higher intake of all types of fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, fiber, fish, poultry, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products, was found to be significantly associated with decreased risk of EC (OR=0. 80, 95%CI: 0.61–0.98, random effects), whereas no significant association with Western/unhealthy dietary pattern was observed (OR=1. 14, 95%CI: 0.95-1.34, fixed effects). Conclusion: This meta-analysis proposes that adherence to a healthy dietary pattern is related to a lower risk of endometrial cancer.

Keywords:

Dietary patterns , endometrial cancer , meta-analysis