title: Dietary patterns and risk of colorectal cancer: a systematic review of cohort studies (2000-2011).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This systematic review of cohort studies aimed to identify any association between specific dietary patterns and risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Dietary patterns involve complex interactions of food and nutrients summarizing the total diet or key aspects of the diet for a population under study.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review involves 6 cohort studies of dietary patterns and their association with colorectal cancer. An exploratory or a posteriori approach and a hypothesis-oriented or a priori approach were employed to identify dietary patterns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The dietary pattern identified to be protective against CRC was healthy, prudent, fruits and vegetables, fat reduced/diet foods, vegetables/fish/poultry, fruit/wholegrain/dairy, healthy eating index 2005, alternate healthy eating index, Mediterranean score and recommended food score. An elevated risk of CRC was associated with Western diet, pork processed meat, potatoes, traditional meat eating, and refined grain pattern.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Western dietary pattern which mainly consists of red and processed meat and refined grains is associated with an elevated risk of development of CRC. Protective factors against CRC include a healthy or prudent diet, consisting of vegetables, fruits, fish and poultry.
authors.affiliation: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. zms@ppukm.ukm.my
authors.forename: Afzaninawati Suria
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Yusof
authors.forename: Zaleha Md
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Isa
authors.forename: Shamsul Azhar
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors