Plant-Based Diets and Cancer Risk: What is the Evidence?

DeClercq, Vanessa; Nearing, Jacob T.; Sweeney, Ellen

doi:10.1007/s13668-022-00409-0

Cited by 20 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 99 publications

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“…For selecting medicinal plants, there are different strategies that can be used, as reported by [26] in Figure 10. Concerning plant functional traits and their potential for human health, there are several general themes such as antimicrobial plants [65,66], plant secondary metabolites [67], nutraceuticals for human health [68], plant leaf protein concentrates [69], biofortified plants for human health [70], plant-based diets for human diseases [17,71], and herbal bioactive-based products for different applications such as cosmetics [72,73]. Plant-based diets have important benefits for human health, which prevent or decrease many human diseases such as cardiovascular, dermatological, endocrinological, gastrointestinal, ophthalmological, genitourinary, otolaryngological, musculoskeletal, neurological, and respiratory diseases [65].…”

Section: Medicinal Plants and Their Bioactive Compoundsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant Nutrition for Human Health: A Pictorial Review on Plant Bioactive Compounds for Sustainable Agriculture

et al. 2022

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Is there any relationship between plant nutrition and human health? The overall response to this question is very positive, and a strong relationship between the nutrition of plants and humans has been reported in the literature. The nutritional status of edible plants consumed by humans can have a negative or positive impact on human health. This review was designed to assess the importance of plant bioactive compounds for human health under the umbrella of sustainable agriculture. With respect to the first research question, it was found that plant bioactives (e.g., alkaloids, carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolics, and terpenoids) have a crucial role in human health due to their therapeutic benefits, and their potentiality depends on several factors, including botanical, environmental, and clinical attributes. Plant bioactives could be produced using plant tissue culture tools (as a kind of agro-biotechnological method), especially in cases of underexploited or endangered plants. Bioactive production of plants depends on many factors, especially climate change (heat stress, drought, UV radiation, ozone, and elevated CO2), environmental pollution, and problematic soils (degraded, saline/alkaline, waterlogged, etc.). Under the previously mentioned stresses, in reviewing the literature, a positive or negative association was found depending on the kinds of stress or bioactives and their attributes. The observed correlation between plant bioactives and stress (or growth factors) might explain the importance of these bioactives for human health. Their accumulation in stressed plants can increase their tolerance to stress and their therapeutic roles. The results of this study are in keeping with previous observational studies, which confirmed that the human nutrition might start from edible plants and their bioactive contents, which are consumed by humans. This review is the first report that analyzes this previously observed relationship using pictorial presentation.

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Section: Medicinal Plants and Their Bioactive Compoundsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant Nutrition for Human Health: A Pictorial Review on Plant Bioactive Compounds for Sustainable Agriculture

et al. 2022

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“…The current food system is a major driver of global environmental footprints, with increases in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and water use, pollution, habitat destruction, loss of biodiversity, and much more [1, 2]. Diets improving health and at the same time the environment have been leading to so-called ‘co-benefits’ where it may be possible to mitigate dietary-related GHG emissions and other environmental impacts [1].…”

Section: Knowledge Transfer Of Bruno Abreu (Porto) and Nicole Erickso...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Diets improving health and at the same time the environment have been leading to so-called ‘co-benefits’ where it may be possible to mitigate dietary-related GHG emissions and other environmental impacts [1]. Vegetarian diets have become increasingly popular over the past years, with people choosing plant-based diets for environmental, ethical, and health reasons [2, 3]. For example, many sources of plant-based diets are not as resource-intensive compared to the production of animal-derived food products [3].…”

Section: Knowledge Transfer Of Bruno Abreu (Porto) and Nicole Erickso...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 2020, cancer was a leading cause of death with approximately 10 million deaths globally [2]. It is estimated that 30–50% of cancers could be prevented by employing prevention strategies such as reduction/cessation of smoking, reduction of overweight/obesity, reduction/cessation of alcohol consumption, and avoidance of environmental carcinogens and an unhealthy diet [3, 4].…”

Section: Knowledge Transfer Of Bruno Abreu (Porto) and Nicole Erickso...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Researchers have identified multiple diet components that negatively impact cancer risk, such as intake of red and processed meat, fast foods, and other processed foods. Instead, health policies advocate and promote a diet that is rich in whole grains, vegetables, and fruits [2]. In fact, some evidence suggests that following a plant-based diet may be associated with a lower cancer risk overall; however, for specific cancers the evidence is limited [2, 3].…”

Section: Knowledge Transfer Of Bruno Abreu (Porto) and Nicole Erickso...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Association Between Sustainability and Cancer – Recent Literature Analysis and Indication of Points for Improvement

Abreu

Erickson

2022

Komp Nutr Diet

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Background: Unhealthy diets, the rise of non-communicable diseases, and the declining health of the planet are highly intertwined, where food production and consumption are major drivers of increases in greenhouse gas emissions, substantial land use, and adverse health such as cancer and mortality. To assess the potential co-benefits from shifting to more sustainable diets, we aimed to investigate the associations of dietary greenhouse gas emissions and land use with all-cause and cause-specific mortality and cancer incidence rates. Methods: Using data from 443 991 participants in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study, a multicentre prospective cohort, we estimated associations between dietary contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and land use and all-cause and cause-specific mortality and incident cancers using Cox proportional hazards regression models. The main exposures were modelled as quartiles. Co-benefits, encompassing the potential effects of alternative diets on all-cause mortality and cancer and potential reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and land use, were estimated with counterfactual attributable fraction intervention models, simulating potential effects of dietary shifts based on the EAT–Lancet reference diet. Findings: In the pooled analysis, there was an association between levels of dietary greenhouse gas emissions and all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1·13 [95% CI 1·10–1·16]) and between land use and all-cause mortality (1·18 [1·15–1·21]) when comparing the fourth quartile to the first quartile. Similar associations were observed for cause-specific mortality. Associations were also observed between all-cause cancer incidence rates and greenhouse gas emissions, when comparing the fourth quartile to the first quartile (adjusted HR 1·11 [95% CI 1·09–1·14]) and between all-cause cancer incidence rates and land use (1·13 [1·10–1·15]); however, estimates differed by cancer type. Through counterfactual attributable fraction modelling of shifts in levels of adherence to the EAT–Lancet diet, we estimated that up to 19–63% of deaths and up to 10–39% of cancers could be prevented, in a 20-year risk period, by different levels of adherence to the EAT–Lancet reference diet. Additionally, switching from lower adherence to the EAT–Lancet reference diet to higher adherence could potentially reduce food-associated greenhouse gas emissions up to 50% and land use up to 62%. Interpretation: Our results indicate that shifts towards universally sustainable diets could lead to co-benefits, such as minimising diet-related greenhouse gas emissions and land use, reducing the environmental footprint, aiding in climate change mitigation, and improving population health. Funding: European Commission (DG-SANCO), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), MRC Early Career Fellowship (MR/M501669/1).

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Effects of a Short‐Term Vegan Challenge in Older Adults on Metabolic and Inflammatory Parameters—A Randomized Controlled Crossover Study

Döschner,

Schulze,

Göger

et al. 2024

Molecular Nutrition Food Res

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ScopeA long‐term vegan diet carries the risk of insufficient protein and micronutrient intake for older adults. However, even a short‐term (48 h) vegan diet exerts positive metabolic effects in younger adults. In this study, we investigate the feasibility and effects of a short‐term vegan challenge on metabolic and inflammatory markers in older adults.Method and resultsIn this randomized controlled crossover‐study, 30 healthy older adults (≥65 years) are assigned to either a 48 h ad libitum vegan or omnivorous diet. During the vegan diet, participants exhibit lower protein (p = 0.001) and fat intake as well as higher carbohydrate and dietary fiber intake, resulting in a lower caloric intake (all p < 0.001). Insulin concentrations (p = 0.042) and insulin resistance (p = 0.036) decline only after the vegan diet. The study observes reductions in serum glucose (p < 0.001), triglyceride (p = 0.005), and hsCRP (p = 0.044) concentrations and weight (p < 0.001), independent of the diet. Participants with low‐grade inflammation exhibit notable metabolic improvements after the vegan diet.ConclusionImprovements in insulin homeostasis are observed after the vegan diet, but meeting protein requirements are not feasible during the short‐term vegan challenge despite dietary counseling, which warrants concern.

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Plant-Based Diets and Cancer Risk: What is the Evidence?

Cited by 20 publications

References 99 publications

Plant Nutrition for Human Health: A Pictorial Review on Plant Bioactive Compounds for Sustainable Agriculture

Plant Nutrition for Human Health: A Pictorial Review on Plant Bioactive Compounds for Sustainable Agriculture

Association Between Sustainability and Cancer – Recent Literature Analysis and Indication of Points for Improvement

Effects of a Short‐Term Vegan Challenge in Older Adults on Metabolic and Inflammatory Parameters—A Randomized Controlled Crossover Study

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