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Mechanisms of Specific Nutrients in the Prevention of Cancer

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Nutrients and Cancer Prevention

Part of the book series: Experimental Biology and Medicine ((EBAM,volume 23))

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Abstract

Many dietary intervention protocols for cancer prevention have been proposed, often with little justification. However, in recent years our understanding of the mechanisms of carcinogenesis, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract, has increased enormously and we are now in a position to propose dietary interventions with a solidly rational basis, and to devise rational procedures for their rapid evaluation. In this presentation I will discuss the mechanism of action of three specific nutrients in the prevention of cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, namely ascorbic acid in the primary prevention of gastric cancer and calcium supplements or caecal acidification in the primary prevention of colorectal cancer. In both cancers it will first be necessary to review the state of our current knowledge of the mechanism of carcinogenesis, in order to be able to put the role of the specific nutrient into context.

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Hill, M.J. (1990). Mechanisms of Specific Nutrients in the Prevention of Cancer. In: Prasad, K.N., Meyskens, F.L. (eds) Nutrients and Cancer Prevention. Experimental Biology and Medicine, vol 23. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4516-2_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4516-2_11

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-8856-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-4516-2

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