Western Diseases: Their Emergence and Prevention

Abstract

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Molecular Mechanisms of Western Diet-Induced Obesity and Obesity-Related Carcinogenesis—A Narrative Review

“…Denis Burkitt and colleagues pioneered the concept of the detrimental effects of an urbanized 'Western-type' diet and the development of chronic diseases including T2DM, obesity, coronary artery disease, gallstones, colonic diverticulosis and colorectal cancer in industrialized countries such as Britain and the USA [36][37][38][39][40]. Burkitt highlighted the observation that between 1860 and 1960 the consumption of sugar doubled, the consumption of fat increased by 50% and the intake of dietary fibre decreased by 90%.…”

“…This was related to mechanical milling of cereal grains, production of bran-deficient white bread and white rice, refining of sugar cane and corn and increased meat consumption. Burkitt advocated for the consumption of greater than 50 g/day of dietary fibre, when the average consumption in Britain was 15 g/day [36][37][38][39]. His dietary fibre in the prevention of CRC hypothesis was supported by large epidemiological studies but there was discordance with some RCTs and prospective cohort trials.…”

“…Dietary fibre promotes carbohydrate fermentation by intestinal microbiota, suppresses oncogenic signalling, colonic mucosal proliferation markers and high-risk adenomatous polyp formation. It also has metabolic benefits in decreasing cholesterol absorption and helping prevent obesity, hyperlipidaemia, atherosclerosis and T2DM [39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48].…”

Urbanization in Sub‐Saharan Africa: Declining Rates of Chronic and Recurrent Infection and Their Possible Role in the Origins of Non‐communicable Diseases

“…Further, when individuals move from low-to high-prevalence areas, the next and subsequent generations have a disease prevalence aligned with that of Western countries. Examples of this phenomenon include the Japanese population that has settled in Hawaii [28], descendants of Pacific Islanders who immigrated to New Zealand [29], and African and Yemenite Jews who immigrated to Israel after the Second World War [30]. Of note, these geographic variations also occur in the pediatric population [21], suggesting these differences are not solely due to aging.…”