title: [The overall toxic situation today. Thoughts on the WHO report, "Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases."].
abstract: In the 1950s to '70s, food additives and contaminants were considered important risk factors for cancer and other chronic diseases. Opinion leaders like F. Eichholtz and W. Kollath in Germany and R. Carson and J.J. Delaney in the United States maintained that the exclusion of man-made chemicals from the food supply would decisively contribute to better health. In contrast to these views, world-wide scientific opinion now emphasizes the role of personal lifestyle, e.g., over-nutrition, unbalanced diets, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption in the causation of chronic diseases. Dietary guidelines now recommended for the prevention of cancer are largely identical with those recommended for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Indications are that oxidative damage to DNA contributes importantly to both these diseases. In research the role of antioxidants and other protective substances in foods receives as much attention today as man-made carcinogens received in the past. Media reporting and nutrition counseling have taken very little notice of these fundamental changes in scientific opinion.
authors: Institut für Ernährungsphysiologie, Bundesforschungsanstalt für Ernährung, Karlsruhe.
authors: J F
authors: JF
authors: Diehl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D005503:Food Additives / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005506:Food Contamination; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D012307:Risk Factors; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D005503:Food Additives
vernacular_title: Die toxische Gesamtsituation heute. Gedanken zum WHO-Bericht "Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases".