title: Pulses and carcinogenesis: potential for the prevention of colon, breast and other cancers.
abstract: Consumption of pulses as components of healthy diets is encouraged because it is believed that this is likely to help in reducing the risk of common non-communicable diseases, including cancers. However, the evidence base for the role of pulses in prevention of cancers is unconvincing because of the difficulties, using conventional epidemiological tools, in ascertaining the quantitative contribution made by pulses to cancer risk. Advances in understanding of the biological basis of cancer and of the mechanisms of action of cancer-preventing compounds offer new insights into the role of food-derived substances and of diet-gene interactions in modulating cancer risk. Pulses contain a rich variety of compounds which, if consumed in sufficient quantities, may help to reduce tumour risk.
authors.affiliation: Human Nutrition Research Centre, Department of Biological and Nutritional Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK. john.mathers@ncl.ac.uk
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Mathers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000235:genetics; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000235:genetics; D004032:Diet; D007887:Fabaceae; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D015894:Genome, Human; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D013213:Starch / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011134:Polysaccharides; D013213:Starch