Dietary Patterns Associated With Weight Loss Among Patients With Colorectal Cancer During the First 6 Months After Diagnosis: A Cross-Sectional Analysis From the ColoCare Study.

BACKGROUND

Unintentional weight loss following a cancer diagnosis is associated with increased risk of adverse clinical outcomes. Nutrition guidance for the prevention of weight loss after cancer diagnosis is limited, particularly regarding optimal dietary patterns.

OBJECTIVE

To identify common dietary patterns among a cohort of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and evaluate their associations with weight loss during the 6 months following CRC diagnosis.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional analysis of data from CRC patients enrolled in the ColoCare Study between 2010 and 2021.

PARTICIPANTS/

SETTING

Four hundred five patients newly diagnosed with CRC from 4 study sites located in Washington, Utah, Missouri, and California. Included participants completed a 6-month food frequency questionnaire and had self-reported weight data from study enrollment to 6 months.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was weight loss ≥5% from study enrollment to the 6-month follow-up visit.

STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Principal component analysis was leveraged to identify common dietary patterns, and Healthy Eating Index 2020 scores were calculated as a reference dietary pattern. Associations between adherence to dietary patterns (scaled to compare the 90th vs 10th percentile) and 6-month weight loss were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression. All tests were 2-sided.

RESULTS

Four dietary patterns were identified: Western; Prudent; Refined Grain, Sugar, and Dairy; and High-Fat, High-Protein Foods. High compared with low adherence to the Refined Grain, Sugar, and Dairy dietary pattern was associated with greater odds of weight loss in the first 6 months following CRC diagnosis (odds ratio 2.04; 95% CI, 1.10 to 3.81; P = .02). There was evidence for effect modification by cancer type and history of unintentional weight loss at study enrollment.

CONCLUSIONS

These results highlight the potential for dietary patterns to influence weight loss during the first 6 months following a cancer diagnosis. Further research is needed to refine dietary guidance for patients with CRC to improve clinical outcomes.