Kok DE, Arron MNN, Huibregtse T, et al. - This cohort study demonstrated a lower risk of postoperative complications in relation to higher habitual dietary fiber intake before surgery among patients with colorectal cancer.

• Patients with stage I to IV colorectal cancer (n = 1399) who had elective abdominal surgery were included.

• A 204-item food frequency questionnaire was applied to evaluate habitual dietary fiber intake.

• Occurrence of any complications and surgical complications in 397 patients (28%) and 235 patients (17%), respectively, was reported.

• A lower risk of any complications (odds ratio [OR], 0.75) and surgical complications (OR, 0.76) was observed in relation to higher dietary fiber intake (per 10 g per day), whereas no link with anastomotic leakage was identified (OR, 0.97).

• A link of higher dietary intake with any complications (OR, 0.64) was evident in females, whereas no association was found among males (OR, 0.79).

• Fiber consumption from vegetables (per 1 g per day) was inversely related to any (OR, 0.90) and surgical (OR, 0.87) complications.

• Improving preoperative dietary fiber consumption may be considered in future prehabilitation programs for colorectal cancer patients receiving surgery.