Cancer survivors diagnosed young face declining dietary quality with age

A study conducted by professors Baek Su-ah of Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital and Bae Woo-kyung of Bundang Seoul National University Hospital reveals that cancer survivors diagnosed at a young age face declining dietary quality as they age.

Analyzing data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019–2021) involving 8,706 adults, researchers found that while cancer survivors generally maintain a higher dietary quality index (69.1 points) than the general population (66.1 points), age at diagnosis plays a critical role. Survivors diagnosed before age 50 showed better dietary quality than the general population until age 65, but their scores dropped 3.2 points below the general population once they reached age 65 or older.

In contrast, those diagnosed after age 50 maintained a dietary quality 3.76 points higher than the general population regardless of their current age. The research, published in the international journal ‘Nutrients’, emphasizes the need for customized nutritional counseling and regular dietary assessments for younger survivors to mitigate the risks of secondary cancers and chronic diseases.