A perspective on diet, nutrition, and cancer

This communication (1) reviews the controversy surrounding dietary recommendations aimed at reducing the incidence of cancer; (2) presents the somewhat conflicting conclusions of two National Research Council committees; (3) discusses a critique of these conclusions prepared by the Council on Agricultural Science and Technology; and (4) summarizes some of the epidemiologic data presented at a recent workshop conference sponsored by the American Cancer Society. The participants in the latter conference were divided on what advice the public should be given regarding diet, nutrition, and cancer. In a poll, two thirds of the participants indicated either that no advice was warranted or that general advice stressing the desirability of eating in moderation was adequate, based on current scientific knowledge.