(02-12-07) The Expert Report on Cancer prevention: Behind the Headlines

Did you hear? We released a report.
Five years of hard work came to fruition earlier this month with the launch of AICR?s Expert Report, Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective. You might have seen it on CBS, NBC, ABC, PBS, CNN, FOX, MSNBC or your local news broadcast. It was a front-page story in USA Today and many others papers, magazines and Web sites across the country, and across the world.
You probably heard about the link between excess body fat and cancer risk. The evidence is stronger than ever--in fact, body fat is now linked to six different cancers--so the news put the emphasis on that aspect of the story. You probably also heard about the convincing evidence linking red and processed meat to colorectal cancer because it disturbed many meat-loving Americans. (That was a bit puzzling to us, because on a practical level the Expert Report?s recommendation on meat isn?t all that different from what AICR has said for years.)
But there?s a lot more to the report --- after all, in its 517 pages it looks at over 7000 studies on all aspects of diet, physical activity and weight to determine how these factors increase or decrease the chances of getting cancer.
Here are a couple of recommendations we think should have received more attention.
Breastfeeding is Protective ? for Moms and Kids Both
There weren?t many things that were shown to protect against both pre-menopausal and post-menopausal breast cancer. They?re two very different diseases, after all, and what influences the risk for one doesn?t necessarily influence risk for the other. But the report shows convincingly that breastfeeding reduces a woman?s risk of breast cancer throughout her life.
Why? Breastfeeding lowers the levels of some cancer-related hormones in the mother?s body. It also eliminates breast cells that may have damage to their DNA, which reduces breast cancer risk in the long run.
What?s more, children who are breastfed are less likely to be overweight or obese, which protects them against cancer down the road.
According to the report, it?s best for mothers to breastfeed exclusively for up to six months and then add other liquids and foods.
Don?t Rely on Supplements
?Don?t use supplements to protect yourself from cancer.?
This recommendation might confuse some people. After all, the report did find evidence that high-dose supplements of certain specific substances can and do influence cancer risk. And we know that women of childbearing age can benefit from supplements of folic acid, and that many people don?t get enough vitamin D.
So what?s the reasoning behind AICR?s recommendation?
The language of the recommendation is very important. It doesn?t say ?Don?t use supplements.? It says ?Don?t use supplements to protect yourself from cancer.? It?s true that supplements of selenium and calcium may offer a measure of cancer protection, at some levels and for some people. But other high-dose supplements (beta-carotene, for example) may actually increase cancer risk.
And because these effects on cancer risk have only been observed among small groups of high-risk subjects, it?s difficult to predict how those supplements will affect everyone else.
And there?s a larger issue here. If you look at the more formal language the AICR Expert Panel used when coming up with this recommendation, you can probably guess it: ?Aim to meet nutritional needs through diet alone.?
We know that whole foods offer many things necessary for good health ? fiber, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. But we still don?t know if taking these substances in isolation will provide the same benefits. And taking them at high doses can be downright dangerous.
So the AICR recommendation really cautions against relying on this or that supplement as a means to protect yourself from cancer. A better approach is to get what your body needs from a balanced diet, if you can. We know that such a diet ? high in a variety of plant foods ? offers cancer protection.
But if you need help getting what you need through diet alone, a doctor or registered dietitian can offer more personalized guidance about vitamins and supplements.


Source: American Institute for Cancer Research

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