Fruit and vegetables and cancer risk: a review of southern European studies

Abstract

High intakes of fruit and vegetables may reduce the risk of cancer at several sites. Evidence has been derived mainly from case -control studies. We reviewed the relationship between consumption of vegetables and fruit and the risk of several common cancers in a network of Italian and Swiss case -control studies including over 10 000 cases of fourteen different cancers and about 17 000 controls. Data were suggestive of a protective role of vegetable intake on the risk of several common epithelial cancers. OR for the highest compared with the lowest levels of consumption ranged from 0·2 (larynx, oral cavity and pharynx) to 0·9 (prostate). Inverse associations were found for both raw and cooked vegetables, although for upper digestive tract cancers the former were somewhat stronger. Similar inverse associations were found for cruciferous vegetables. Frequent consumption of allium vegetables was also associated with reduced risk of several cancers. Fruit was a favourable correlate of the risk of several cancers, particularly of the upper digestive tract, with associations generally weaker than those reported for vegetables. A reduced risk of cancers of the digestive tract and larynx was found for high consumption of citrus fruit. Suggestive protections against several forms of cancer, mainly digestive tract cancers, were found for high consumption of apples and tomatoes. High intakes of fibres, flavonoids and proanthocyanidins were inversely related to various forms of cancer. In conclusion, data from our series of case-control studies suggested a favourable role of high intakes of fruit and vegetables in the risk of many common cancers, particularly of the digestive tract. This adds evidence to the indication that aspects of the Mediterranean diet may have a favourable impact not only on CVD, but also on several common (epithelial) cancers, particularly of the digestive tract.

Black raspberries in cancer clinical trials: Past, present and future

“…Over the last 20 years improvements in screening and treatment modalities have led to decreases in the colorectal cancer death rates. Despite these advances approximately half of patients diagnosed with CRC will eventually die of the disease [1, 2]. Thus, there remains a critical need for more effective preventive and treatment options targeting colorectal cancer.…”

Fatores de risco relacionados à carga global de doença do Brasil e Unidades Federadas, 2015

“…Inadequate diet may also contribute to other RFs, such as arterial hypertension (AH), obesity, and malnutrition. Prospective 18 , case-control 19 , and other types of studies 20 have indicated that consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, some cancers, and neural tube defects, which has been explained by the content of micronutrients such as potassium, lycopene, folic acid, carotenoids, fibers, polyphenols, water, and low caloric density. Because it is a modifiable factor, it becomes important to adopt public policies that may interfere with behaviors, such as the publication of the Food Guide for the Brazilian Population (2014) 21 and voluntary agreements for the reduction of sodium and trans fats in industrialized foods 22,23 .…”

Do You Really Want a Hunter-gatherer Microbiota? Perils and Pitfalls for Your Gut

“…Some studies of dietary fiber show benefit but an equal number of studies show no effect in systematic reviews or meta-analyses including thousands or tens of thousands of people [50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66].…”