Recommended Food Score and Healthy Nordic Food Index in Cancer: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Aim: Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world. About one third of deaths from cancer are due to the five behavioral and dietary risk factors e.g., high body mass index, low fruit and vegetable consumption, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, and alcohol use. The aim of this study is to review systematically the association of Recommended Food Score (RFS) and the Healthy Nordic Food Index (HNFI) with cancer.

Method: Literature search conducted using electronic database PubMed, Google scholar, Science direct for the period of 2011 until January 2020 also reference list of the included studies.

Results: Nine studies were met inclusion criteria. Two studies that investigated about RFS showed no significant association between RFS and breast cancer and colorectal cancer survival. Two out of three studies aboutthe HNFI and colorectal cancer observed that adherence to the HNFI might decrease colorectal cancer incidence and improve colorectal cancer survival. In addition, two out of three studies showed adherence to the HNFI could decrease cancer mortality.

Conclusion: Adherence to the HNFI might decrease the risk of colorectal cancer incidence. It is suggested more studies about between RFS and THE HNFI with other kind of cancers.

Conflict of Interest

There is no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

This study is related to the project NO. 1397/69270 From Student Research Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

We also appreciate the “Student Research Committee” and “Research & Technology Chancellor” in Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences for their financial support of this study.

Additional information

Funding

We have no funding sources.