Plant-based, fast-food, Western-contemporary, and animal-based dietary patterns and risk of premature aging in adult survivors of childhood cancer: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Although premature aging is a significant concern in adult survivors of childhood cancer, little is known about the role of diet in premature aging in this vulnerable population. Therefore, we examined whether dietary patterns specific to childhood cancer survivors are associated...

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Main Authors: Tuo Lan, Mei Wang, AnnaLynn M. Williams, Matthew J. Ehrhardt, Jennifer Q. Lanctot, Shu Jiang, Kevin R. Krull, Gregory T. Armstrong, Melissa M. Hudson, Graham A. Colditz, Leslie L. Robison, Kirsten K. Ness, Yikyung Park
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Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:BMC Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-025-03940-3
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author Tuo Lan
Mei Wang
AnnaLynn M. Williams
Matthew J. Ehrhardt
Jennifer Q. Lanctot
Shu Jiang
Kevin R. Krull
Gregory T. Armstrong
Melissa M. Hudson
Graham A. Colditz
Leslie L. Robison
Kirsten K. Ness
Yikyung Park
author_facet Tuo Lan
Mei Wang
AnnaLynn M. Williams
Matthew J. Ehrhardt
Jennifer Q. Lanctot
Shu Jiang
Kevin R. Krull
Gregory T. Armstrong
Melissa M. Hudson
Graham A. Colditz
Leslie L. Robison
Kirsten K. Ness
Yikyung Park
author_sort Tuo Lan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Although premature aging is a significant concern in adult survivors of childhood cancer, little is known about the role of diet in premature aging in this vulnerable population. Therefore, we examined whether dietary patterns specific to childhood cancer survivors are associated with premature aging. Methods This cross-sectional study included 2904 adult survivors of childhood cancer (mean age = 31 years, SD = 8 years) in the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort. Diet was assessed using a food frequency. Four dietary patterns were identified: (1) plant-based diet pattern high in whole grains, fruit, and vegetables; (2) fast-food diet pattern high in processed meat, high-fat dairy, and sweets and desserts; (3) Western contemporary diet pattern high in red meat, pasta/rice, French fries, and salty snacks; and (4) animal-based diet pattern high in all meats. The deficit accumulation index (DAI), a proxy measure of premature aging, was estimated as the ratio of the number of age-related items out of 44 total conditions and categorized into low, medium, and high deficit accumulation groups. Multivariable multinomial logistic regressions were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of medium and high DAI groups (reference: low group). Results Compared to survivors consuming a plant-based diet, those who consume a fast-food (ORhigh vs. low DAI = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.12‒2.96), a Western contemporary (OR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.31‒3.43), or an animal-based diet (OR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.15‒3.84) had approximately a twofold higher odds of being in the high DAI group. In contrast, survivors with a plant-based diet had almost 50% lower odds of being in the high DAI group, compared to those with other dietary patterns (OR ranges 0.47‒0.55). Conclusions A plant-based diet may promote healthy aging, whereas a fast-food, a Western contemporary, and an animal-based diet may have detrimental effects on aging. Adult survivors of childhood cancer may benefit from nutrition education and interventions for healthy aging.
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spelling doaj-art-d4e1cadaa78543dfaf88aa665bb3475a2025-08-20T03:04:16ZengBMCBMC Medicine1741-70152025-02-012311910.1186/s12916-025-03940-3Plant-based, fast-food, Western-contemporary, and animal-based dietary patterns and risk of premature aging in adult survivors of childhood cancer: a cross-sectional studyTuo Lan0Mei Wang1AnnaLynn M. Williams2Matthew J. Ehrhardt3Jennifer Q. Lanctot4Shu Jiang5Kevin R. Krull6Gregory T. Armstrong7Melissa M. Hudson8Graham A. Colditz9Leslie L. Robison10Kirsten K. Ness11Yikyung Park12Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of MedicineDivision of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of MedicineDivision of Supportive Care in Cancer, Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, James P. Wilmot Cancer InstituteDepartment of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children’S Research HospitalDepartment of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children’S Research HospitalDivision of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of MedicineDepartment of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children’S Research HospitalDepartment of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children’S Research HospitalDepartment of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children’S Research HospitalDivision of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of MedicineDepartment of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children’S Research HospitalDepartment of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children’S Research HospitalDivision of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of MedicineAbstract Background Although premature aging is a significant concern in adult survivors of childhood cancer, little is known about the role of diet in premature aging in this vulnerable population. Therefore, we examined whether dietary patterns specific to childhood cancer survivors are associated with premature aging. Methods This cross-sectional study included 2904 adult survivors of childhood cancer (mean age = 31 years, SD = 8 years) in the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort. Diet was assessed using a food frequency. Four dietary patterns were identified: (1) plant-based diet pattern high in whole grains, fruit, and vegetables; (2) fast-food diet pattern high in processed meat, high-fat dairy, and sweets and desserts; (3) Western contemporary diet pattern high in red meat, pasta/rice, French fries, and salty snacks; and (4) animal-based diet pattern high in all meats. The deficit accumulation index (DAI), a proxy measure of premature aging, was estimated as the ratio of the number of age-related items out of 44 total conditions and categorized into low, medium, and high deficit accumulation groups. Multivariable multinomial logistic regressions were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of medium and high DAI groups (reference: low group). Results Compared to survivors consuming a plant-based diet, those who consume a fast-food (ORhigh vs. low DAI = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.12‒2.96), a Western contemporary (OR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.31‒3.43), or an animal-based diet (OR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.15‒3.84) had approximately a twofold higher odds of being in the high DAI group. In contrast, survivors with a plant-based diet had almost 50% lower odds of being in the high DAI group, compared to those with other dietary patterns (OR ranges 0.47‒0.55). Conclusions A plant-based diet may promote healthy aging, whereas a fast-food, a Western contemporary, and an animal-based diet may have detrimental effects on aging. Adult survivors of childhood cancer may benefit from nutrition education and interventions for healthy aging.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-025-03940-3Dietary patternsPremature agingDeficit accumulation indexChildhood cancer survivorPlant-based dietFast-food diet
spellingShingle Tuo Lan
Mei Wang
AnnaLynn M. Williams
Matthew J. Ehrhardt
Jennifer Q. Lanctot
Shu Jiang
Kevin R. Krull
Gregory T. Armstrong
Melissa M. Hudson
Graham A. Colditz
Leslie L. Robison
Kirsten K. Ness
Yikyung Park
Plant-based, fast-food, Western-contemporary, and animal-based dietary patterns and risk of premature aging in adult survivors of childhood cancer: a cross-sectional study
BMC Medicine
Dietary patterns
Premature aging
Deficit accumulation index
Childhood cancer survivor
Plant-based diet
Fast-food diet
title Plant-based, fast-food, Western-contemporary, and animal-based dietary patterns and risk of premature aging in adult survivors of childhood cancer: a cross-sectional study
title_full Plant-based, fast-food, Western-contemporary, and animal-based dietary patterns and risk of premature aging in adult survivors of childhood cancer: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Plant-based, fast-food, Western-contemporary, and animal-based dietary patterns and risk of premature aging in adult survivors of childhood cancer: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Plant-based, fast-food, Western-contemporary, and animal-based dietary patterns and risk of premature aging in adult survivors of childhood cancer: a cross-sectional study
title_short Plant-based, fast-food, Western-contemporary, and animal-based dietary patterns and risk of premature aging in adult survivors of childhood cancer: a cross-sectional study
title_sort plant based fast food western contemporary and animal based dietary patterns and risk of premature aging in adult survivors of childhood cancer a cross sectional study
topic Dietary patterns
Premature aging
Deficit accumulation index
Childhood cancer survivor
Plant-based diet
Fast-food diet
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-025-03940-3
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