Frontiers in Nutrition (Jun 2023)

Adherence to Mediterranean diet and its association with multiple colonic polyps of unknown origin: a case-control study

  • Gabriela Bujanda-Miguel,
  • Alejandro Martínez-Roca,
  • Anabel García-Heredia,
  • David Guill-Berbegal,
  • Enrique Roche,
  • Enrique Roche,
  • Enrique Roche,
  • Rodrigo Jover,
  • Rodrigo Jover

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1186808
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

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IntroductionMultiple colonic polyps do not have a genetic origin in most patients, and the cause of this phenotype remains elusive. Environmental factors, such as diet, could be related to this phenotype. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between the adherence to Mediterranean diet and multiple colonic polyps of unknown origin.MethodsA case-control pilot study was carried out with a sample of 38 individuals, including 23 cases with more than 10 adenomatous or serrated polyps from the national multicenter project EPIPOLIP and 15 healthy controls with normal colonoscopy. A validated Spanish version of the MEDAS questionnaire was administered to cases and controls.ResultsAdherence to Mediterranean diet was higher in controls than in patients with multiple colonic polyps (MEDAS score: 8.6 ± 1.4 vs. 7.0 ± 1.6; p = 0.01). Optimal overall adherence to the Mediterranean diet pattern was significantly higher among the controls than among cases (MEDAS score >9: 46% vs. 13%; OR 0.17; 95% CI 0.03–0.83). Non-optimal adherence to the Mediterranean diet acts as a risk factor for developing colorectal cancer derived from colorectal polyps.ConclusionOur results suggest that environmental factors play a role in the pathogenesis of this phenotype.

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