title: Dietary chemoprevention of colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Colorectal cancer is the second cause of morbidity and death in Italy. Genetic and environmental factors, i.e. inappropriate nutrition, are strongly involved in the aetiology of colon cancer. In the present review the authors analyze the possible mechanisms by which certain nutritive factors may interfere with the complex process of carcinogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors identify studies by a literature search of Medline from January 1, 1970, through December 31, 2006.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mechanism of every protective compound is detailed, in particular the impact of antioxidant vitamins and minerals on tumor development. At present, the data suggest that vegetables are associated with lower risk and that their fbre content alone does not account for this association. Further, meat consumption is associated with an increased risk but this, too, is not explained solely by its fat content. Several microconstituents of the diet may be associated with reduced risk, including folate, methionine, calcium and vitamin D. Short chain fatty acids also contribute to colonic health. Nevertheless agricultural products contain several dangerous pesticides. Mutagenic compounds, particularly heterocyclic amines, produced when protein is cooked, plausibly explain the meat association.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Healthy nutrition is a necessary but not sufficient condition for colon cancer prevention: accepted the feasibility of an accurate control on every patient's diet, fequently the difficulty encountered in nutritional chemoprevention is to establish individual metabolic profiles.
authors.affiliation: IV School of Specialization in General Surgery, Francesco Durante Department of General Surgery, Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Forte
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Sanctis
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leonetti
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manfredelli
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Urbano
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bezzi
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018890:Chemoprevention; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012307:Risk Factors; D014675:Vegetables; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D008903:Minerals; D014815:Vitamins