Evidence mapPaperPMID 39090501Full record

SynthesisGeroScience2025

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and its protective effects against colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis of 26 studies with 2,217,404 participants.

Zoltan Ungvari, Mónika Fekete, János Tibor Fekete, Giuseppe Grosso, Anna Ungvari, Balázs Győrffy

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in GeroScience, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
27citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

27 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Zoltan UngvariVascular Cognitive Impairment, Neurodegeneration and Healthy Brain Aging Program, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
Mónika FeketeInstitute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Semmelweis University, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
János Tibor FeketeDepartment of Bioinformatics, Semmelweis University, 1094, Budapest, Hungary.
Giuseppe GrossoDepartment of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Anna UngvariInstitute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Semmelweis University, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. Ungann2004@gmail.com.ORCID 0009-0001-5053-2828
Balázs GyőrffyDepartment of Bioinformatics, Semmelweis University, 1094, Budapest, Hungary.

Funding

Chemotherapy-induced vascular cognitive impairment: role of endothelial senescenceR01CA255840 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR · 2022 to 2025
$982k
Radiation-induced astrocyte dysfunction and cognitive declineR01NS100782 · NINDS · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR · PI ZOLTAN Istvan UNGVARI · 2021 to 2022
$686k
Cerebral microhemorrhages and gait abnormalities in agingR01AG055395 · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR · 2025 to 2025
$424k
The role of IGF-1 signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells in age-related vascular cognitive impairment and dementiaR01AG070915 · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR · 2025 to 2025
$350k
NCI NIH HHS R01 CA255840Nemzeti Kutatási, Fejlesztési és Innovaciós Alap TKP2021-NKTA-47NIA NIH HHS R01 AG055395NIA NIH HHS R01 AG068295NIA NIH HHS R01 AG070915NIA NIH HHS RF1 AG072295NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS100782
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major global health concern and represents a significant public health challenge in Hungary, where it exhibits some of the highest morbidity and mortality rates in the European Union. The Mediterranean diet has been suggested to reduce the incidence of CRC, but comprehensive evidence from diverse study designs is needed to substantiate this effect. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, CENTRAL, and the Web of Science to identify randomized controlled trials and human clinical trials from 2008 to 2024 to identify relevant studies. Statistical analysis was performed using the https://metaanalysisonline.com web application using a random effects model to estimate the pooled hazard rates (HRs). Forest plots, funnel plots, and Z-score plots were utilized to visualize results. We identified 15 clinical trials and 9 case-control studies, encompassing a total of 2,217,404 subjects. The pooled analysis indicated that adherence to the Mediterranean diet significantly reduced the prevalence of CRC (HR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.78-0.91, p < 0.01). This protective effect was consistent across sexes, with HRs of 0.85 (95% CI = 0.75-0.97, p = 0.01) for males and 0.88 (95% CI = 0.79-0.99, p = 0.03) for females. Case-control studies specifically showed a substantial effect (HR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.38-0.68, p < 0.01). Notable heterogeneity was observed across studies, yet the a priori information size was substantially below the cumulative sample size, ensuring sufficient data for reliable conclusions. The findings from this meta-analysis reinforce the protective role of the Mediterranean diet against CRC. The results of this meta-analysis will inform dietary interventions designed to mitigate CRC risk, which are conducted within the framework of the Semmelweis Study, an ongoing comprehensive cohort study at Semmelweis University, designed to explore the multifaceted causes of unhealthy aging in Hungary. These interventions aim to explore the practical application of Mediterranean dietary patterns in reducing CRC incidence among the Hungarian population.

Indexed as

Colorectal NeoplasmsDiet, MediterraneanFemaleHumansHungaryIncidenceMaleDietary interventionHealthy agingMalignanciesMalignant diseaseTumorUnhealthy aging

Identifiers

PMID39090501
PMCPMC11872821

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.