Role of nutrition in preventing cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To summarize the evidence linking dietary habits to the incidence of several types of cancer with special emphasis on the chemoprotective properties of foods that originate from plants.


METHODS
A large body of epidemiologic, animal, and laboratory literature indicates that as many as 30% of all cancer cases are linked to poor dietary habits. The proportion reaches 70% for cancers of the gastrointestinal tract.


RESULTS
Studies have consistently linked abundant consumption of plant-based food to a substantial reduction in risk of developing various cancers. Laboratory studies show that this chemopreventive effect is related to the high levels of numerous phytochemicals in this food. These phytochemicals interfere with several cellular processes involved in the progression of cancer and also with inflammatory processes that foster development of cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Dietary factors play an important role in the high incidence of several types of cancer in Canada. Modification of dietary habits to include daily intake of plant-based food containing anticancer and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals thus represents a promising approach to preventing the development of cancer.
Béliveau
Richard
R
Laboratoire de Médecine Moléculaire, Centre de Recherche de l'Hôpital Ste-Justine, 3175 chemin Côte-Ste-Catherine, Montréal, QC. beliveau.richard@uqam.ca
Gingras
Denis
D
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002170:Canada; D004032:Diet; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012380:Role; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014675:Vegetables
D000975:Antioxidants; D004043:Dietary Fiber