NEW research sheds light on the connection between diet and colorectal cancer risk, offering fresh perspectives on dietary habits that may protect against or contribute to the disease. The study, which tracked 542,778 women from the Million Women Study over an average of 16.6 years, documented 12,251 new cases of colorectal cancer. By examining 97 dietary factors, the researchers have identified key nutrients and food groups associated with cancer risk.
The strongest findings include a clear inverse relationship between calcium intake and colorectal cancer risk, with a relative risk reduction of 17% per additional 300 mg of calcium consumed daily. Dairy products, closely linked to calcium intake, were highlighted as protective. On the other hand, alcohol consumption was associated with increased risk, with each additional 20 g per day raising the risk by 15%.
Other notable findings included a positive association with red and processed meat intake and weaker protective effects of breakfast cereals, fruit, wholegrains, fibre, carbohydrates, total sugars, folate, and vitamin C. These findings underscore the multifaceted role diet plays in colorectal cancer development, with calcium-rich foods like dairy products emerging as key players in reducing risk.
In a complementary genetic analysis conducted using data from the ColoRectal Transdisciplinary Study, the Colon Cancer Family Registry, and the GECCO Consortium, genetically predicted milk consumption was inversely linked to the risk of colorectal, colon, and rectal cancers. This genetic evidence further strengthens the case for calcium and dairy products as protective factors against the disease.
This large-scale study underscores the importance of dietary choices in colorectal cancer prevention. By prioritising calcium-rich foods and moderating alcohol and red meat consumption, individuals may significantly reduce their risk. These findings add to the growing body of evidence supporting the role of diet in cancer prevention and provide actionable insights for public health recommendations.
Aleksandra Zurowska, EMJ
Reference
Papier K et al. Diet-wide analyses for risk of colorectal cancer: prospective study of 12,251 incident cases among 542,778 women in the UK. Nat Commun. 2025;DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-55219-5.
