Possible connection between diet and microRNA in cancer scenario

Early diagnosis, risk prediction, and prevention are critical to reduce disease burden and increase the quality of life. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs, are related to many diseases including cancers. MiRNA dysregulation has been observed in patients as compared to healthy subjects; moreover, miRNA expression profiles can be used to classify poorly differentiated tumors. Recent studies have suggested that early detection of cancers could be achieved by analyzing serum miRNAs and that miRNA profiling would serve to indicate health status. For disease prevention, prophylactic actions should then be taken during early stages before the appearance of symptoms. Notably, it has been shown that naturally occurring compounds can favorably control tumor-related miRNAs, suggesting that food-derived compounds could modulate the expression levels of miRNAs and help recover and maintain the healthy state prior to disease onset. Here we discuss the possible roles of miRNAs as biomarkers and as preventive tools in disease and present an overview of current knowledge regarding the relationship between diet, health, and miRNAs.