Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T09:58:49.909Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Diet and cancer: where are we and where are we going?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2007

Gad Rennert*
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine and Epidemiology and CHS National Israeli Cancer Control Center, Carmel Medical Center and Technion Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, 34362, Israel
*
Corresponding author: Dr G. Rennert, fax 972 4 834 4358, [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Many studies have shown that overall dietary patterns, dietary components consumed, or mode of food preparation are all possibly relevant in either reducing or increasing the risk of cancer in animals or man. Yet, dietary intervention studies, stemming from laboratory and epidemiological observational studies have often failed to demonstrate the anticipated protection against cancer. One possible explanation for the discrepancy between the results of various observational and experimental chemo-prevention studies is the lack of control for biological diversity of the participants of these studies. It is suggested that future epidemiological studies provide evidence stratified by status of major metabolic polymorphisms pertinent to the study subject, and that future intervention studies take these differences into account in the design and analysis phases.

Type
Session: Whole cereal grains, fibre and human cancer
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2003

References

Albanes, D, Heinonen, OP, Taylor, PR, Virtamo, J, Edwards, BK, Rautalahti, M, Hartman, AM, Palmgren, J, Freedman, LS, Haapa-koski, J, Barrett, MJ, Pietinen, P, Malila, N, Tala, E, Liippo, K, Salomaa, ER, Tangrea, JA, Teppo, L, Askin, FB, Taskinen, E, Erozan, Y, Greenwald, P, Huttunen, JK (1996) Alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene supplements and lung cancer incidence in the alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene cancer prevention study: effects of base-line characteristics and study compliance. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 88, 15601570.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Alberts, DS, Martinez, ME, Roe, DJ, Guillen-Rodriguez, JM, Marshall, JR, van Leeuwen, JB, Reid, ME, Ritenbaugh, C, Vargas, PA, Bhattacharyya, AB, Earnest, DL, Sampliner, RE (2000) Lack of effect of a high-fiber cereal supplement on the recurrence of colorectal adenomas. Phoenix Colon Cancer Prevention Physicians' Network. New England Journal of Medicine 342, 11561162.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bonithon Kopp, C, Kronborg, O, Giacosa, A, Rath, U, Faivre, J (2000) Calcium and fibre supplementation in prevention of colorectal adenoma recurrence: a randomised intervention trial. European Cancer Prevention Organisation Study Group. Lancet 356, 13001306.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chen, J, Stampfer, MJ, Hough, HL, Garcia-Closas, M, Willett, WC, Hennekens, CH, Kelsey, KT, Hunter, DJ (1998) A prospective study of N-acetyltransferase genotype, red meat intake, and risk of colorectal cancer. Cancer Research 58, 3307–11.Google ScholarPubMed
Chlebowski, RT, Grosvenor, M (1994) The scope of nutrition intervention trials with cancer-related endpoints. Cancer 74, 27342738 Suppl. 93.0.CO;2-U>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Doll, R, Peto, R (1981) The causes of cancer: quantitative estimates of avoidable risks of cancer in the United States today. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 66, 12911308.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hill, MJ, Giacosa, A, Caygill, CPJ (editors) (1994) Epidemiology of Diet and Cancer. Series in Food Science New York: Ellis Horwood.Google Scholar
Lin, HJ, Probst-Hensch, NM, Louie, AD, Kau, IH, Witte, JS, Ingles, SA, Frankl, HD, Lee, ER, Haile, RW (1998) Glutathione transferase null genotype, broccoli, and lower prevalence of colorectal adenomas. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention 7, 647652.Google ScholarPubMed
Ma, J, Stampfer, MJ, Christensen, B, Giovannucci, E, Hunter, DJ, Chen, J, Willett, WC, Selhub, J, Hennekens, CH, Gravel, R, Rozen, RA (1999) Polymorphism of the methionine synthase gene: association with plasma folate, vitamin B12, homocyst(e)ine, and colorectal cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention 8, 825829.Google ScholarPubMed
Omenn, GS, Goodman, GE, Thornquist, MD, Balmes, J, Cullen, MR, Glass, A, Keogh, JP, Meyskens, FL, Jr, Valanis, B, Williams, JH, Jr (1996) Risk factors for lung cancer and for intervention effects in CARET, the Beta-Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 88, 15501559.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Patterson, RE, Eaton, DL, Potter, JD (1999) The genetic revolution: change and challenge for the dietetics profession. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 99, 14121420.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rennert, G (2002) Dietary intervention studies and cancer prevention. European Journal of Cancer Prevention 11, 419425.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schatzkin, A, Lanza, E, Corle, D, Lance, P, Iber, F, Caan, B, Shike, M, Weissfeld, J, Burt, R, Cooper, MR, Kikendall, JW, Cahill, J (2000) Lack of effect of a low-fat, high-fiber diet on the recurrence of colorectal adenomas. Polyp Prevention Trial Study Group. New England Journal of Medicine 342, 11491155.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed