Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Nutrition and cancer

W C Willett1

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Salud Publica De Mexico
|July 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary

Maintaining a healthy weight and active lifestyle, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, and limiting red meat, animal fats, and alcohol can significantly lower cancer risk throughout life.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Prospective study of alcohol consumption and the risk of age-related macular degeneration.

Archives of ophthalmology (Chicago, Ill. : 1960)·2000
Same author

A prospective study of plasma insulin-like growth factor-1 and binding protein-3 and risk of colorectal neoplasia in women.

Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology·2000
Same author

Snoring and risk of cardiovascular disease in women.

Journal of the American College of Cardiology·2000
Same author

Postmenopausal estrogens--opposed, unopposed, or none of the above.

JAMA·2000
Same author

Prospective study of talc use and ovarian cancer.

Journal of the National Cancer Institute·2000
Same author

Race, ethnicity and benign prostatic hyperplasia in the health professionals follow-up study.

The Journal of urology·2000

Area of Science:

  • Nutritional Science
  • Epidemiology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Excessive energy intake is linked to increased cancer risk across the lifespan.
  • Childhood growth rates and adult body fat accumulation correlate with specific cancer types.
  • Dietary factors, including fruits, vegetables, and alcohol, play a role in cancer development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence linking diet, physical activity, and body composition to human cancer risk.
  • To identify key dietary and lifestyle factors that influence cancer development.
  • To provide recommendations for cancer risk reduction.

Main Methods:

  • Review of animal and epidemiological studies.
  • Analysis of associations between dietary intake (energy, fat, fruits, vegetables, meat, alcohol) and cancer incidence.
  • Examination of the role of body fat and physical activity.

Main Results:

  • High energy intake, rapid childhood growth, and adult obesity increase cancer risk.
  • Fruit and vegetable consumption shows protective effects, possibly due to folic acid.
  • Dietary fat is not a primary cause of breast or colon cancer; red meat and dairy may increase prostate and colon cancer risk.
  • Alcohol consumption is a significant risk factor for several cancers.

Conclusions:

  • Remaining lean and physically active is crucial for cancer prevention.
  • A diet rich in fruits and vegetables, with limited red meat, animal fats, and alcohol, substantially reduces cancer risk.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate specific mechanisms, but current evidence strongly supports these lifestyle modifications.

Related Experiment Videos