title: Mediterranean diet and colorectal cancer risk: a pooled analysis of three Italian case-control studies.
abstract: Adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) is associated with a reduced risk of several cancers. However, studies conducted in Mediterranean regions are scanty.
  
  
  
  To investigate the relation between MD and colorectal cancer risk in Italy, we pooled data from three case-control studies, including a total of 3745 colorectal cancer cases and 6804 hospital controls. Adherence to the MD was assessed using an a priori Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS), based on nine components.
  
  
  
  Compared with the lowest adherence to the MD (0-2 MDS), the odds ratio (OR) was 0.52 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43-0.62) for the highest adherence (7-9 MDS), with a significant inverse trend in risk (P<0.0001). The OR for a 1-point increment in the MDS was 0.89 (95% CI 0.86-0.91). The inverse association was consistent across studies, cancer anatomical subsites and strata of selected covariates.
  
  
  
  This Italian study confirms a favourable role of MD on colorectal cancer risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.|Unit of Medical Statistics, Biometry and Bioinformatics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rosato
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Guercio
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri', Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bosetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri', Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Negri
authors.affiliation: Unit of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico Aviano IRCCS, Aviano, Italy.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Serraino
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Clinical Nutrition, Policlinico di Monza, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Attilio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giacosa
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Unit, National Cancer Institute, 'G. Pascale' Foundation, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montella
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: La Vecchia
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri', Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tavani
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012306:Risk; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D055815:Young Adult