Cancer and nutritional misconceptions: a perspective.
Misconceptions and disinformation have clouded the relevance of nutritional practices in cancer prevention. This perspective presents data from experimental and human studies, showing that, for most cancers, no convincing evidence exists to incriminate any dietary factor. The relevance of fiber and excess energy intake to the risk of colorectal cancer is also far from established. It is concluded that the significance of dietary factors in cancer prevention, is exaggerated. Even if an association does exist between nutritional practices and the risk for certain cancers, it is very small. As physicians, we should not allow nutritional misconceptions, fads, and belief systems, to mislead the public into wasting billions of dollars for ineffective dietary practices and "nutritional" supplements, in the false hope of cancer prevention.
Mogadam
M
M
Georgetown University, School of Medicine, Washington, D.C.
D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D004033:Diet Fads; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000517:prevention & control; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena