Levels of evidence for the association between different food groups/items consumption and the risk of various cancer sites: an umbrella review

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the level of evidence on the association between food groups/items consumption and the risk of different cancer sites from the meta-analyses/pooled analyses of observational studies. A systematic search was executed in Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Web of Science. The criteria from the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) Expert Report were adopted for evidence grading. In summary, there was convincing evidence for the association between fibre intake and decreased risk of colon and breast cancer. Also, consumption of dairy products, milk, fruits, and fibre was associated with a probable decreased risk of breast cancer. Consumption of whole grains, dairy products, milk, fruits, vegetables, and fibre had a probable inverse association with the incidence risk of gastrointestinal tract cancers. More qualified studies are needed to find reliable findings on the association between various food groups/items consumption and the risk of different cancer sites.

Keywords:

• Cancer
• evidence grading
• food group
• food item

Acknowledgement

This study is related to the project NO 1399/62216 from Student Research Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. We also appreciate the “Student Research Committee” and the “Research and Technology Chancellor” in Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences for their financial support of this study.

Author contributions

The authors confirm contribution to the paper as follows: Study conception and design: MJ and HE-Z. Data collection: MJ, SP, EM, FHB, AY and MB. Analysis and interpretation of results: MJ, YY, BA and DAM. Draft manuscript preparation: MJ and AH. Final revision of the manuscript: HE-Z. All authors reviewed the results and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.