Nutrition and physical activity: two targets for cancer prevention
Thibault, R.; Dupertuis, Y.M.; Belabed, L.; Pichard, C.
Revue Medicale Suisse 6(250): 1046-8 1050-2
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 1660-9379 PMID: 20564863 Document Number: 642322
The links between nutrition and cancer onset are now well established by epidemiological studies. The scientific evidence is presented in a report of the World Cancer Research Foundation (WCRF). Protective factors towards overall cancer risk are fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity. Overweight and obesity, intakes of alcoholic beverage, fat, salt, high temperature cooked and processed red meat, increase cancer risk. In addition, beta-carotene systematic supplementation could increase lung cancer risk in smokers. As optimal controlling of these risk factors can decrease cancer mortality by 25%, nutritional counselling must be integrated in the global strategy of primary and secondary prevention of cancers.