Effect of dietary patterns on colon or rectal cancer risk

• 'Dietary patterns characterized by high intakes of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes, fish and other seafood, and milk and other dairy products are associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer.'
• 'Dietary patterns characterized by high intakes of red meat, processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverages, refined grains, desserts, and potatoes are associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer.'

• Moderate evidence indicates that dietary patterns higher in vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, lean meats and seafood, and low-fat dairy and low in red and processed meats, saturated fat and sugar-sweetened beverages and sweets relative to other dietary patterns are associated with lower risk of colon and rectal cancer. 
• Moderate evidence also indicates that dietary patterns that are higher in red and processed meats, French fries, potatoes, and sources of sugars (e.g., sugar-sweetened beverages, sweets and dessert foods) are associated with a greater colon and rectal cancer risk.

• 'Independent of effects on body weight, a healthy dietary pattern rich in plant foods, including fruits, non-starchy vegetables, whole grains, and legumes (e.g., beans), and low in red and processed meats, reduces risk of certain cancers, particularly colorectal cancer.'

Effect of fruit and vegetable intake on colon or rectal cancer risk

• The risk reduction of colorectal cancer by fruits, non-starchy vegetables and cruciferous vegetables is suggestive and by garlic it is probable.

• 'There still is probable evidence that the increased intake of vegetables and fruit reduces the risk of […] malignant tumours in the colon, and possible evidence of a reduced risk of malignant tumours of […] rectum'.
• A clearly inverse correlation was observed between the consumption of vegetables  […] and the risk of colorectal cancer.
• No clear results were observed for the relationship between the consumption of fruits and the risk of […] colorectal cancer.

Effect of legumes intake on colon or rectal cancer risk

• 'Increased intake of legumes is associated with decreased risk of mortality and  [...] colorectal [...] cancer.'

Effect of fibre and whole grain intake on colon or rectal cancer risk

• 'Consumption of wholegrains probably protects against colorectal cancer.'
• 'Consumption of foods containing dietary fibre probably protects against colorectal cancer.'

• 'The consumption of wholegrain cereal products reduces the risk of […] colorectal cancer, with a probable level of evidence.'

• 'There is probable evidence suggesting that a high intake of dietary fibre from cereal grains probably reduces the risk of developing […] malignant colorectal tumours'

• 'Convincing evidence suggests reduced risk of colorectal cancer associated with the consumption of fiber.'

• 'There is an association between higher consumption of dietary fibre and a reduced incidence of colorectal cancer, colon and rectal cancers, as well as cereal fibre and wholegrains and colorectal cancer.'

• 'An adequate intake of dietary fibre reduces the risk of constipation and contributes to a reduced risk of colorectal cancer.'
• '[T]here is convincing evidence for a protective effect of dietary fibre against colorectal cancer.'
• 'A high intake of whole grains lowers the risks of [...] colorectal cancer [...].'

Effect of milk and dairy products intake on colon or rectal cancer risk

• 'Consumption of dairy products probably protects against colorectal cancer.'

• 'Consumption of milk reduces the risk of colorectal cancer, with a probable level of evidence.'

• 'Inverse associations were observed for the risk of colorectal cancer with the intake of milk and dairy products.'
• 'The meta-analyses regarding milk (non-fermented, considered individually) showed the same risk relations as those to milk and dairy products (considered as a whole) for […] colorectal and prostate cancer.'

• 'Moderate consumption of milk and dairy may reduce risk of [colorectal cancer].'

Effect of meat intake on colon or rectal cancer risk

• 'There is sufficient evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of consumption of processed meat. Consumption of processed meat causes cancer of the colorectum.'
• 'Consumption of red meat is probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A).'^b
• 'Consumption of processed meat is carcinogenic to humans (Group 1).'^b

• 'Limiting consumption of red meat and processed meat, especially of processed meat, may decrease risk of colorectal cancer.'

• 'Consumption of red meat is probably a cause of colorectal cancer'
• 'Consumption of processed meat is a convincing cause of colorectal cancer'

• 'The consumption of red meat and processed meats (including delicatessen meats) increases the risk of colorectal cancer, with a convincing level of evidence'

• 'There is still probable evidence of an increased risk of colorectal carcinomas due to increased intake of red meat and meat products.'
• 'The intake of red and processed meat was rather positively associated with cancer, especially colon and colorectal cancer.'
• 'The majority of included studies showed a positive association between the consumption of red meat, processed meat and red meat in total and [colorectal cancer]. No relationship was observed between the consumption of white meat and [colorectal cancer].'

• The evidence for an increased risk of colorectal cancer associated with the consumption of red meats and charcuterie is convincing.

• '[…] a high consumption of red and processed meat is a convincing cause of colorectal cancer.'
• 'Intake above 350 grams/week of red meat increases the risk of [colorectal cancer].' 
• 'Intake of processed meat increases risk of [colorectal cancer].'

• 'There is sufficient evidence in humans for a cancer-preventive effect of absence of excess body fatness. Absence of excess body fatness prevents cancers of the colon and rectum, […]'

• 'There is strong evidence that being overweight or obese increases the risk of colorectal cancer'
• 'Greater body fatness is a convincing cause of colorectal cancer'

• 'The evidence that overweight and abdominal adiposity are risk factors for colorectal cancer, colon and rectal cancer is convincing.'

• 'Based on solid evidence, obesity is associated with increased incidence of and mortality from [colorectal cancer]'

• 'There is sufficient evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of alcoholic beverages. The occurrence of malignant tumours of […] colorectum […] is causally related to the consumption of alcoholic beverages.'
• 'Alcoholic beverages are carcinogenic to humans (group 1)'^b
• 'Ethanol in alcoholic beverages is carcinogenic to humans (group 1)^b'
• 'There is sufficient evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of alcohol consumption. Alcohol consumption causes cancers of […] colorectum'
• 'Alcohol consumption is carcinogenic to humans (Group 1)'

• 'Consumption of alcoholic drinks is a convincing cause of colorectal cancer. This is based on evidence for intakes above 30 grams per day (about two drinks a day)'

• The evidence for an association of consumption of alcoholic beverages with colorectal cancer is convincing for men and likely for women.

• 'Based on solid evidence from observational studies, excessive c alcohol use is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer'

• Alcohol was not consistently a part of the patterns found to be significantly associated with a lower risk of incident colorectal cancer and in some cases was part of patterns associated with increased risk. Thus, “moderate alcohol” was removed from the 2020 Committee conclusion statement. 

• There is sufficient evidence that those who live a physically active life can gain a number of health benefits including a lowered risk of colon cancer.

• 'Physical activity convincingly protects against colon cancer'

• 'Strong epidemiological evidence exists that being physically active reduces the risk of cancers of the […] colon […]'
• 'Emerging evidence suggests that sedentary behaviour is associated with an increased risk of cancers of the […] colon […]'

• 'Strong evidence linked highest versus lowest physical activity levels to reduced risks of […] colon […] cancers'
• 'Effects of physical activity on specific cancer risk were clearly seen for both women and men for colon […] cancers'

• 'Higher levels of physical activity are associated with a lower risk of breast and colon cancer and premature death. Research shows that the beneficial effects increase in proportion to the amount of physical activity'

• 'There is strong evidence for an association between higher levels of physical activity in adults and older adults and lower rates of colon cancer'

• 'The evidence for a decreased risk of colon cancer (both proximal and distal) associated with physical activity, regardless of the type of physical activity, is "convincing"'

• 'Based on solid evidence, regular physical activity is associated with a decreased incidence of CRC [colorectal cancer]’. Studies found statistically significant 24% reduction in CRC incidence.'

• 'Tobacco causes a variety of cancer types, such as […] colorectal.'

• 'There is sufficient evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of tobacco smoking. Tobacco smoking causes cancers of […] colorectum'
• 'Tobacco smoking is carcinogenic to humans (Group 1).^b'

• 'Smoking 40 cigarettes (two packs) per day increases risk of colorectal cancer by about 40 per cent and nearly doubles the risk of colorectal cancer death.'

• 'Based on solid evidence, cigarette smoking is associated with increased incidence of and mortality from [colorectal cancer]'