Significance of Dietary Antioxidants in Averting Cancer Subrahmanyam V1* and Radhika P Ramachandran2*
1Department of Biochemistry, School of Life sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 2Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SRM University, Chennai
Abstract Reactive oxygen species are constantly produced in our body due to various factors like environmental pollution, unhealthy diet habits, cellular metabolism etc. Epidemiological studies suggest that the intakes of antioxidants are inversely related to the cancer risk. While the cell culture studies confirm the effect of antioxidants against cancer, the clinical trials remains inconclusive. The human population is heterogeneous regarding Reactive oxygen species (ROS), so screening the human population for developing the risk of cancer will provide a scientific ground for the application of antioxidants. Research is increasingly showing that those who eat antioxidant-rich foods reap health benefits. Foods, rather than supplements, may boost antioxidant levels because foods contain an unmatchable array of antioxidant substances.
Conclusions By this we can conclude that dietary antioxidants can provide a wide sort of health benefits, caused by the in the presence of free radicals on key biomolecules like lipids or nucleic acids. We can also prevent the various diseases which are occurring in the presence of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) like cancer and oxidative stress related diseases.
Top Ranked Antioxidant foods : Small red beans, dried, Wild blueberries, Red kidney beans, dried, Pinto beans, Blueberries, cultivated, Cranberries, Artichoke hearts, cooked, Blackberries, Dried prunes, Raspberries, Strawberries, Red delicious apple, Granny Smith apple , Pecans, Sweet cherries, Black plum, Russet potato, cooked, Black beans, Plum, Gala apple.
The highest ranked foods in four major categories are as follows: Fruits: blueberries, cranberries, and blackberries. Vegetables: beans, artichoke hearts, and surprisingly, russet potatoes. Nuts: pecans, walnuts, and hazelnuts. Spices: cinnamon, oregano, and ground cloves.
Chemoprevention of Gastric Dysplasia: Randomized Trial of Antioxidant Supplements and Anti-Helicobacter pylori Therapy Pelayo Correa, Elizabeth T. H. Fontham, Juan C. Bravo, Luis E. Bravo, Bernardo Ruiz, Guillermo Zarama, J. Luis Realpe, Gray T. Malcom, Daner Li, William D. Johnson, Robertino Mera
Background: Previous research has identified a high risk of gastric carcinoma as well as a high prevalence of cancer precursor lesions in rural populations living in the province of Nariño, Colombia, in the Andes Mountains. Methods: A randomized, controlled chemoprevention trial was conducted in subjects with confirmed histologic diagnoses of multifocal nonmetaplastic atrophy and/or intestinal metaplasia, two precancerous lesions. Individuals were assigned to receive anti-Helicobacter pylori triple therapy and/or dietary supplementation with ascorbic acid, β-carotene, or their corresponding placebos. Gastric biopsy specimens taken at baseline were compared with those taken at 72 months. Relative risks of progression, no change, and regression from multifocal nonmetaplastic atrophy and intestinal metaplasia were analyzed with multivariate polytomous logistic regression models to estimate treatment effects. All statistical tests were two-sided.
Results: All three basic interventions resulted in statistically significant increases in the rates of regression: Relative risks were 4.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.6–14.2) for anti-H. pylori treatment, 5.1 (95% CI = 1.7–15.0) for β-carotene treatment, and 5.0 (95% CI = 1.7–14.4) for ascorbic acid treatment in subjects with atrophy. Corresponding relative risks of regression in subjects with intestinal metaplasia were 3.1 (95% CI = 1.0–9.3), 3.4 (95% CI = 1.1–9.8), and 3.3 (95% CI = 1.1–9.5). Combinations of treatments did not statistically significantly increase the regression rates. Curing the H. pylori infection (which occurred in 74% of the treated subjects) produced a marked and statistically significant increase in the rate of regression of the precursor lesions (relative risks = 8.7 [95% CI = 2.7–28.2] for subjects with atrophy and 5.4 [95% CI = 1.7–17.6] for subjects with intestinal metaplasia).
Conclusions: In the very high-risk population studied, effective anti-H. pylori treatment and dietary supplementation with antioxidant micronutrients may interfere with the precancerous process, mostly by increasing the rate of regression of cancer precursor lesions, and may be an effective strategy to prevent gastric carcinoma.
Source : JNCI J Natl Cancer Inst (2000) 92 (23): 1881-1888. doi: 10.1093/jnci/92.23.1881 LINK TO FULL ARTICLE