Anti-Inflammatory Diet Linked to Improved Survival in Stage III Colon Cancer

A recent phase III clinical trial in 2,526 patients with stage III colon cancer found that patients on a diet high in anti‐inflammatory foods had significantly longer overall survival compared with peers on proinflammatory diets. Dietary information among 1,625 patients who returned detailed food‐frequency questionnaires was measured by the Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Pattern (EDIP) metric, which classifies diets as a function of inflammatory potential. Individuals in the highest quintile of proinflammatory intake had an 87% higher risk of mortality compared to individuals in the lowest quintile, the authors point out in emphasizing the influence of diet on cancer prognosis.

Further testing revealed that the combination of an anti-inflammatory diet consisting of dark green leaves, berries, whole grains, tea and coffee with high physical activity (2–3 mph walking for at least one hour, three times per week) led to maximum survival, which was 63% lower than for patients consuming proinflammatory diets with low levels of physical activity. Use of the anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib did not greatly alter this association, indicating that diet and exercise are key, modifiable variables in post-treatment care. Scientists emphasize the need for further studies to determine the biological mechanisms and to develop targeted dietary guidance for colon cancer survivors.