About the project
The primary objective is to test whether a diet intervention based on the Norwegian dietary guidelines (published January 2011), and a diet rich in antioxidants, will reduce comorbidity and increase survival among colorectal patients after surgery.
Men and women, 50-80 years of age, will be recruited to the study. The intervention trial includes several strategies to help the patients to follow the dietary guidelines. After the one-year intensive intervention period, the participants will be followed up moderately for 15 years in order to investigate the long-term effects on health and survival.
Recruitment of patients started in March 2012, and it is expected to be completed within 2019. The subjects are recruited from the Helse Sør-Øst region, including Oslo University Hospital and Akershus University Hospital.
Background
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common types of cancers in Norway, and the number of colorectal cancer survivors has greatly increased the last decade. The ability to detect symptoms in an early phase and initiate improved treatments contributes to the increased population of CRC survivors. However, a significant number of these patients develop long-term effects after treatment and it is demonstrated that they have increased risk of developing secondary chronic diseases, as well as cancer relapse. There is a need for more research to investigate the impact of diet and lifestyle on these long-term effects.
Due to the sparsity of research within this field there are no specific dietary guidelines for cancer survivors. Today, CRC patients are encouraged to follow the recommendations for primary cancer prevention. The last report from World Cancer Research Fund (2018) concludes that 47 % of all CRC cases could be prevented with improved lifestyle. Both diet and physical activity are important contributors.
Based on the knowledge that cancer survivors are at higher risk of developing comorbidities after initial treatment there is a need for more research to determine whether diet may reduce risk of comorbidity and relapse in these patients.
Financing
- The Research Council of Norway
- Throne Holst Foundation of Nutrition Research
- The Norwegian Cancer Society
- Helse Sør-Øst
Collaboration
Internal (UiO):
- Sigbjørn Smeland, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Oslo University Hospital (OUS)
- Ass.prof. Monica Hauger Carlsen
- Manuela Zucknick, Dept. of Biostatistics
- Marit Veierød, Dept. of Biostatistics
- Jon Håvard Loge, Dept. of Nutrition
- Per Ole Iversen, Dept. of Nutrition
- Kirsten B. Holven, Dept. of Nutrition
- Kjetil Retterstøl, Dept. of Nutrition
- Kristin R. Kardel, Dept. of Nutrition
External:
- Clinical nutritionist, PhD Ane Sørlie Kværner, Helsedirektoratet
- Morten Tandberg Eriksen, Institute of Health and Society, Oslo University Hospital (OUS)
- Gro Wiedsvang,Oslo University Hospital (OUS)
- Clinical nutritionist, PhD Ingvild Paur, Oslo University Hospital (OUS)
- Ass. prof Siv Kjølsrud Bøhn, NMBU
- Sveinung Berntsen, University of Agder
- Arne E. Færden, Akershus University Hospital (Ahus)
- Iris Erlund, National Institute of Health and Welfare, Helsinki
Start - finish
March 2012 - December 2027