Ling Xiang

Ph.D.

Department of Clinical Nutrition, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.

Dr.

PLCO (Learn more about this study)

PLCO-1233

May 30, 2023

Adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension eating pattern reduces the risk of head and neck cancer in the PLCO Cancer Screening Trial

Globally, head and neck cancer (HNC) was the seventh most prevalent form of malignancy, with roughly 930,000 new cases and 460,000 fatalities in 2020, accounting for 4.9% of cancer diagnoses and 4.7% of cancer-related deaths, respectively(1). Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) pattern is a dietary pattern that promotes the consumption of fruits, vegetables, grains, low-fat dairy products, nuts and legumes while restricting the intake of sodium, sugar-sweetened beverages, and red and processed meat. It is composed of several elements that have been identified as protective factors for HNC, such as fruits, vegetables, and grains(2), while simultaneously curtailing the intake of harmful components such as processed meat(3). Furthermore, the DASH diet is recognized to play a role in mitigating obesity, reducing oxidative stress, and alleviating chronic inflammation(4). Obesity is a significant risk factor for HNC(5), and oxidative damage and chronic inflammation are commonly shared pathways for various cancers, including HNC. In actuality, the DASH diet has been found to be beneficial in preventing a variety of cancers, including but not limited to breast cancer, gastric cancer, and lung cancer(6). Nevertheless, the association between DASH diet and the risk of HNC remains unclear. Thus, we conducted this study using prospective data from the PLCO trial.

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