Evolutionary perspectives on diet and cancer

New paradigms in genetics and nutrition provide the potential for understanding the interactions between dietary phytochemicals and metabolic variants in physiologic pathways. However, with thousands of genetic variants and phytochemicals now being discovered, the question inevitably arises as to where to focus the research. An anthropological approach may provide a guide to the answer. From an evolutionary perspective, it is clear that enough time has elapsed since the beginning of agriculture for genetic selection of alleles that are functionally adapted to large‐scale dietary patterns. Traditional foods are now, however, rapidly being removed from their evolutionary contexts, and in their new context they may not have the same beneficial effects. Soy may be an example of such a food. Although it has been implicated in providing protection from breast cancer among Asian populations, it may not confer the same benefit on women of European ancestry, despite their enthusiasm for consuming it. The study of the interactions of genes with their traditional environments, as well as with the changes in diet and lifestyle that may now be occurring, is an important focus for epidemiologic research. This focus promises help in exploiting the potential opportunities for cancer prevention, as well as avoiding potential disastrous increases in cancer risk

Biology · Cancer · Context (archaeology · Diet and cancer · Enthusiasm · Evolutionary biology · Evolutionary medicine · Perspective (graphical · Computer Science · Nutrition, Genetics, and Disease · Nutritional Studies and Diet · Phytoestrogen effects and research · Psychology · Biotechnology · Genetics

• Reconsidering the Placebo Response from a Broad Anthropological Perspective

  Open Access•Jennifer Jo Thompson, C Ritenbaugh et al.•Culture Medicine and Psychiatry•2008

  Añadir item