Plant-Based Diets and Ovarian Cancer Risk.

Objective

To assess the relationship between adherence to various plant-based diets, as measured by overall, healthy, and unhealthy plant-based diet indices (PDI, hPDI, uPDI), and ovarian cancer risk.

Methods

We obtained data on 1031 cases of ovarian cancer and 2411 controls from a case-control study conducted in Italy. PDI, hPDI, and uPDI were calculated using data from a validated food frequency questionnaire. We used logistic regression to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of ovarian cancer for PDI, hPDI, and uPDI, adjusting for several possible confounders.

Results

PDI and hPDI were inversely related to ovarian cancer risk (OR = 0.70 for the fourth compared to the first quartile, 95% CI: 0.55-0.89, and OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.53-0.84, respectively). On the other hand, a higher uPDI was related to a higher risk of ovarian cancer (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.40-2.28). The estimates for a 5-point increment in the indices were 0.88 (95% CI: 0.81-0.95) for PDI, 0.90 (95% CI: 0.83-0.96) for hPDI, and 1.15 (95% CI: 1.07-1.23) for uPDI. Consistent associations for the three indices were observed across strata of age, family history of breast/ovarian cancer, educational level, parity, oral contraceptives use, and menopausal status.

Conclusions

Plant-based diets favorably influence ovarian cancer risk; plant-based diets characterized by a high intake of unhealthy plant foods are linked to an increased risk. Promoting diets rich in healthy plant foods could support the reduction of ovarian cancer risk.