Question

Diet and Cancer Incidence

Discuss dietary factors in cancer incidence. Give examples of foods with carcinogenic compounds and examples of foods with anticarcinogenic compounds. Be sure to discuss antioxidants and their role in fighting cancer. Please us proper APA Citations

Answer 1

The dietary factors involved are

a Dietary fat-Population surveys have shown a strong positive corelation between cancer colon and dietary intake of fat.It has been suggested that high fat intake accounts for the high incidence of colon cancer in Western communities.Dietary fat is believed to increase the secretion of bile acids in the bowel which are then metabolized by bacterial flora into carcinogens or cocarcinogens

b Dietary fibre-Several studies indicate that the risk of colon cancer is inversely related to the consumption of dietary fibre ,which may protect against intestinal carcinogens or precursors by dilutional or other effects.

c Micronutrients-They also have a protective influence ,since cancer of the lungs and several other sites have been associated with a low intake of Vitamin A.The risk of stomach cancer has been related to a deficiency of Vitamin C,which may act by inhibiting the formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines in the stomach.

d Food Additives and contaminants-Preservatives artificial sweetners have always been under suspicion as possible carcinogens in their long term effects.Food processing involves exposure to high temperatures,oxidation,polymerization etc which are injurious to health.Saccharin and cyclamate are weak blader carcinogens in lab animals.but the risk in man is very small Aflatoxin is a carcinogenic metabolite.Coffee intake has been associated with bladder cancer and recently with pancreatic cancer.MMutagenic properties of food additives are under surveillance.

Egs of carcinogenic foods are alcohol,processed meat ,Salted fish

Egs of food with anticarcingenic compounds Nuts,Herbs,Berries,oranges

Antioxidants are essential for staying healthy.They are also known as free radical scavengers.There are two types of antioxidants endogenous produced within the body and exogenous obtained from diet.

Free radicals are formed within the body and is harmful but it can damage all components of the cell including DNA,proteins and cell membranes.The damage to the cells caused by free radicals especially the damage to DNA result in the development of cancer.

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Diplock AT,Charleux JL,Crozier-Willi G,et al.Functional food science and defense against reactive oxygen species.British Journal of Nutrition 1998;80(Suppl1):S77-S112.