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Dietary modifiers of carcinogenesis
L Kohlmeier1, N Simonsen, K Mottus
1Departments of Nutrition and Epidemiology, Schools of Public Health and Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Abstract:
Dietary components express a wide range of activities that can affect carcinogenesis. Naturally occurring substances in foods have been shown in laboratory experiments to serve as dietary antimutagens, either as bioantimutagens or as desmutagens. Dietary desmutagens may function as chemical inactivaters, enzymatic inducers, scavengers, or antioxidants. Dietary components may also act later in the carcinogenic process as tumor growth suppressors. Examples of dietary factors acting in each of these stages of carcinogenesis are presented, and potential anticarcinogens such as the carotenoids, tocopherols, phenolic compounds, glucosinolates, metal-binding proteins, phytoestrogens, and conjugated linoleic acid are discussed. Individual foods typically contain multiple potential anticarcinogens. Many of these substances can influence carcinogenesis through more than one mechanism. Some substances exhibit both anticarcinogenic and carcinogenic activity in vitro, depending on conditions. Epidemiologic research indicates that high fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with lower cancer risk. Little research has focused on the effects of single substances or single foods in man. Realization of the potential of foodborne substances to reduce the human burden of cancer will only be achieved with better measurement of dietary exposures and funding of multidisciplinary research in this area commensurate with its importance.
Insights
Dietary components, including fruits and vegetables, can act as antimutagens and tumor suppressors, potentially lowering cancer risk. Further research on specific food compounds and human exposure is crucial for cancer prevention.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Cancer Research
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Dietary components possess diverse biological activities influencing carcinogenesis.
- Naturally occurring food substances can act as dietary antimutagens (bioantimutagens or desmutagens) or tumor growth suppressors.
- Desmutagens function via mechanisms like chemical inactivation, enzyme induction, scavenging, or antioxidant activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the roles of dietary factors in various stages of carcinogenesis.
- To discuss potential anticarcinogenic compounds found in foods.
- To highlight the need for further research on dietary exposures and their impact on human cancer risk.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of laboratory and epidemiological studies.
- Discussion of specific dietary factors and their mechanisms of action.
- Analysis of the multi-component nature of foods and synergistic effects.
Main Results:
- Identified anticarcinogens include carotenoids, tocopherols, phenolic compounds, glucosinolates, metal-binding proteins, phytoestrogens, and conjugated linoleic acid.
- Many dietary substances exhibit multiple mechanisms of action against cancer.
- Epidemiological data suggest a correlation between high fruit and vegetable intake and reduced cancer risk.
Conclusions:
- Dietary components play significant roles in modulating carcinogenesis through various mechanisms.
- Individual foods often contain multiple anticarcinogenic agents.
- Enhanced measurement of dietary exposures and multidisciplinary research are essential to harness the cancer-preventive potential of foodborne substances.