Watson R R, Leonard T K
J Am Diet Assoc. 1986 Apr;86(4):505-10.
It has been estimated that 35% of all cancer incidence is related to diet. The potential appears great that high intakes of various nutrients can reduce the incidence of some types of cancer. Selenium and vitamins A, C, and E, discussed in this article, have many actions and interactions that are important in relationship to the study of nutrition and cancer. Even though only a few of the necessary human trials of efficacy have been conducted, epidemiological and animal data suggest that vitamins and/or minerals act as anticarcinogens, altering cancer incidence, differentiation, and growth. Thus, they may prove useful adjuncts to conventional therapies or in cancer prevention. However, the nutrients should not be viewed as cure-alls that work alone. Adequate intake ideally should be the result of increased dietary consumption rather than supplements because as yet unidentified components found in food may prove beneficial and protective. More research is needed prior to encouraging members of the general population to increase their intakes of various nutrients, even though there is now some evidence that those nutrients may help prevent some cancers.
据估计，所有癌症发病率中有35%与饮食有关。大量摄入各种营养素可降低某些类型癌症的发病率，这种可能性似乎很大。本文所讨论的硒以及维生素A、C和E，在营养与癌症研究方面有许多重要的作用和相互作用。尽管仅进行了少数必要的人体疗效试验，但流行病学和动物数据表明，维生素和/或矿物质可作为抗癌剂，改变癌症发病率、分化和生长。因此，它们可能被证明是传统疗法或癌症预防中的有用辅助手段。然而，这些营养素不应被视为能单独发挥作用的万灵药。理想情况下，充足的摄入量应来自饮食消费的增加，而非补充剂，因为食物中尚未确定的成分可能被证明是有益和有保护作用的。在鼓励普通民众增加各种营养素摄入量之前，还需要更多的研究，尽管现在有一些证据表明这些营养素可能有助于预防某些癌症。
