The DOI matches its Crossref record; 221 of the 221 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Nutrition and cancer: A review of the evidence for an anti-cancer diet
Open accessAbstract
It has been estimated that 30–40 percent of all cancers can be prevented by lifestyle and dietary measures alone. Obesity, nutrient sparse foods such as concentrated sugars and refined flour products that contribute to impaired glucose metabolism (which leads to diabetes), low fiber intake, consumption of red meat, and imbalance of omega 3 and omega 6 fats all contribute to excess cancer risk. Intake of flax seed, especially its lignan fraction, and abundant portions of fruits and vegetables will lower cancer risk. Allium and cruciferous vegetables are especially beneficial, with broccoli sprouts being the densest source of sulforophane. Protective elements in a cancer prevention diet include selenium, folic acid, vitamin B-12, vitamin D, chlorophyll, and antioxidants such as the carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, cryptoxanthin). Ascorbic acid has limited benefits orally, but could be very beneficial intravenously. Supplementary use of oral digestive enzymes and probiotics also has merit as anticancer dietary measures. When a diet is compiled according to the guidelines here it is likely that there would be at least a 60–70 percent decrease in breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers, and even a 40–50 percent decrease in lung cancer, along with similar reductions in cancers at other sites. Such a diet would be conducive to preventing cancer and would favor recovery from cancer as well.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
(1965) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(65)91037-8 · Cited by 16,856
Overweight, obesity, and mortality from cancer in a prospectively studied cohort of U.S. Adults
Calle, E. E., Rodriguez, C., Walker-Thurmond, K., & Thun, M. J. (2003) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejmoa021423 · Cited by 7,696
Actual causes of death in the United States
McGinnis, J. M. (1993) · JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association · doi:10.1001/jama.1993.03510180077038 · Cited by 5,480
Actual Causes of Death in the United States, 2000
Mokdad, A. H. (2004) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.291.10.1238 · Cited by 5,211
(1994) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejm199404143301501 · Cited by 4,737
Effects of a combination of beta carotene and vitamin A on lung cancer and cardiovascular disease
Omenn, G. S., Goodman, G. E., Thornquist, M. D., Balmes, J., Cullen, M. R., Glass, A., Keogh, J. P., Meyskens, F. L., Valanis, B., Williams, J. H., et al. (1996) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejm199605023341802 · Cited by 3,638
Fruit, vegetables, and cancer prevention: A review of the epidemiological evidence
Block, G., Patterson, B., & Subar, A. (1992) · Nutrition and Cancer · doi:10.1080/01635589209514201 · Cited by 3,238
(2012) · Hepatogastroenterology · doi:10.5754/hge12469 · Cited by 3,178
International table of glycemic index and glycemic load values: 2002,
Foster-Powell, K., Holt, S. H., & Brand-Miller, J. C. (2002) · The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/76.1.5 · Cited by 3,080
Clark, L. (1996) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.276.24.1957 · Cited by 2,719
Research works printed but not linked: 27
- WCRF/AICR: Food, nutrition and the prevention of cancer: a global perspective:. World Cancer Research Fund / American Institute for Cancer Research. 1997
- Harvell DM, Strecker TE, Xie B, Pennington KL, McComb RD, Shull JD: Dietary energy restriction inhibits estrogen-induced mammary, but not pituitary, tumorigenesis in the ACI rat. Carcinogenesis. 2002, 23: 161-169. · doi:10.1093/carcin/23.1.161
- Sandhu MS, Luben R, Khaw KT: Self reported non-insulin dependent diabetes, family history, and risk of prevalent colorectal cancer: population based, cross sectional study. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2001, 55: 804-805. · doi:10.1136/jech.55.11.804
- La Vecchia C, Chatenoud L, Altieri A, Tavani A: Nutrition and health: epidemiology of diet, cancer and cardiovascular disease in Italy. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2001, 11: 10-15.
- Sinha R, Chow WH, Kulldorff M, Denobile J, Butler J, Garcia-Closas M, Weil R, Hoover RN, Rothman N: Well-done, grilled red meat increases the risk of colorectal adenomas. Cancer Res. 1999, 59: 4320-4324.
- London SJ, Sacks FM, Stampfer MJ, Henderson IC, Maclure M, Tomita A, Wood WC, Remine S, Robert NJ, Dmochowski JR: Fatty acid composition of the subcutaneous adipose tissue and risk of proliferative benign breast disease and breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1993, 85: 785-793. · doi:10.1093/jnci/85.10.785
- Lin X, Gingrich JR, Bao W, Li J, Haroon ZA, Demark-Wahnefried W: Effect of flaxseed supplementation on prostatic carcinoma in transgenic mice. Urology. 2002, 60: 919-924. · doi:10.1016/s0090-4295(02)01863-0
- Nishizawa Y, Yamamoto T, Terada N, Fushiki S, Matsumoto K: Effects of methylcobalamin on the proliferation of androgen-sensitive or estrogen-sensitive malignant cells in culture and in vivo. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 1997, 67: 164-170.
- Nishizawa Y, Goto HG, Tanigaki Y, Fushiki S: Induction of apoptosis in an androgen-dependent mouse mammary carcinoma cell line by methylcobalamin. Anticancer Res. 2001, 21: 1107-1110.
- Tsao CS, Myashita K: Influence of cobalamin on the survival of mice bearing ascites tumor. Pathobiology. 1993, 61: 104-108. · doi:10.1159/000163770
- Tsao CS, Miyashita K, Young M: Cytotoxic activity of cobalamin in cultured malignant and nonmalignant cells. Pathobiology. 1990, 58: 292-296. · doi:10.1159/000163599
- Shimizu N, Hamazoe R, Kanayama H, Maeta M, Koga S: Experimental study of antitumor effect of methyl-B12. Oncology. 1987, 44: 169-173. · doi:10.1159/000226471
- Friedrich M, Rafi L, Mitschele T, Tilgen W, Schmidt W, Reichrath J: Analysis of the vitamin D system in cervical carcinomas, breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Recent Results Cancer Res. 2003, 164: 239-246. · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-55580-0_17
- Schwartz GG, Eads D, Rao A, Cramer SD, Willingham MC, Chen TC, Jamieson DP, Wang L, Burnstein KL, Holick MF, Koumenis C: Pancreatic cancer cells express 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1alpha-hydroxylase and their proliferation is inhibited by the prohormone 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. Carcinogenesis. 2004, 25: 1015-1026. Epub 2004 Jan 1023. · doi:10.1093/carcin/bgh086
- Barreto AM, Schwartz GG, Woodruff R, Cramer SD: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3, the prohormone of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, inhibits the proliferation of primary prostatic epithelial cells. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2000, 9: 265-270.
- Medhekar R: The first quantitative evidence proving the efficacy of supplemental enzymes. In Forsyth, MO: National Enzyme Company, Inc. 2004
- Wald M, Olejar T, Pouckova P, Zadinova M: Proteinases reduce metastatic dissemination and increase survival time in C57Bl6 mice with the Lewis lung carcinoma. Life Sci. 1998, 63: L237-243. · doi:10.1016/s0024-3205(98)00425-1
- Wald M, Zavadova E, Pouckova P, Zadinova M, Boubelik M: Polyenzyme preparation Wobe-Mugos inhibits growth of solid tumors and development of experimental metastases in mice. Life Sci. 1998, 62: L43-48.
- Desser L, Holomanova D, Zavadova E, Pavelka K, Mohr T, Herbacek I: Oral therapy with proteolytic enzymes decreases excessive TGF-beta levels in human blood. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2001, 47: S10-15. · doi:10.1007/s002800170003
- Lauer D, Muller R, Cott C, Otto A, Naumann M, Birkenmeier G: Modulation of growth factor binding properties of alpha2-macroglobulin by enzyme therapy. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2001, 47: S4-9. · doi:10.1007/s002800170002
- Sakalova A, Bock PR, Dedik L, Hanisch J, Schiess W, Gazova S, Chabronova I, Holomanova D, Mistrik M, Hrubisko M: Retrolective cohort study of an additive therapy with an oral enzyme preparation in patients with multiple myeloma. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2001, 47: S38-44. · doi:10.1007/s002800170008
- Dale PS, Tamhankar CP, George D, Daftary GV: Co-medication with hydrolytic enzymes in radiation therapy of uterine cervix: evidence of the reduction of acute side effects. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2001, 47: S29-34. · doi:10.1007/s002800170006
- Gujral MS, Patnaik PM, Kaul R, Parikh HK, Conradt C, Tamhankar CP, Daftary GV: Efficacy of hydrolytic enzymes in preventing radiation therapy-induced side effects in patients with head and neck cancers. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2001, 47: S23-28. · doi:10.1007/s002800170005
- Popiela T, Kulig J, Hanisch J, Bock PR: Influence of a complementary treatment with oral enzymes on patients with colorectal cancers – an epidemiological retrolective cohort study. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2001, 47: S55-63. · doi:10.1007/s002800170010
- Beuth J, Ost B, Pakdaman A, Rethfeldt E, Bock PR, Hanisch J, Schneider B: Impact of complementary oral enzyme application on the postoperative treatment results of breast cancer patients – results of an epidemiological multicentre retrolective cohort study. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2001, 47: S45-54. · doi:10.1007/s002800170009
- Hildenbrand GL, Hildenbrand LC, Bradford K, Cavin SW: Five-year survival rates of melanoma patients treated by diet therapy after the manner of Gerson: a retrospective review. Altern Ther Health Med. 1995, 1: 29-37.
- La Vecchia C, Negri E, Pelucchi C, Franceschi S: Dietary folate and colorectal cancer. Int J Cancer. 2002, 102: 545-547. · doi:10.1002/ijc.10720
Cited by
Free Radicals, Antioxidants in Disease and Health
Department of Pharmacy, L. S. P. C. H., Pham-Huy, L. A., He, H., Department of Analytical Chemistry, C. P. U., Pham-Huyc, C., & Laboratory of Toxicology, F. O. P. (2008) · International Journal of Biomedical Science · doi:10.59566/ijbs.2008.4089 · Cited by 3,058
Potential Role of Carotenoids as Antioxidants in Human Health and Disease
Fiedor, J., & Burda, K. (2014) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu6020466 · Cited by 1,420
Drug repurposing for cancer therapy
Xia, Y., Sun, M., Huang, H., & Jin, W.-L. (2024) · Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy · doi:10.1038/s41392-024-01808-1 · Cited by 443
Engineered commensal microbes for diet-mediated colorectal-cancer chemoprevention
Ho, C. L., Tan, H. Q., Chua, K. J., Kang, A., Lim, K. H., Ling, K. L., Yew, W. S., Lee, Y. S., Thiery, J. P., & Chang, M. W. (2018) · Nature Biomedical Engineering · doi:10.1038/s41551-017-0181-y · Cited by 303
Fanasca, S., Colla, G., Maiani, G., Venneria, E., Rouphael, Y., Azzini, E., & Saccardo, F. (2006) · Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry · doi:10.1021/jf0602572 · Cited by 189
Metadata
- Authors
- Donaldson, M. S.
- Venue
- Nutrition Journal
- Published
- 2004-10-20
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 19-19
- ISSN
- 1475-2891 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2102634879
- Cited by
- 699
- References
- 221
- FWCI
- 18.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
How to cite
Cite CoChat for the checks on this page, and the paper for its own findings.
- This page
- CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Nutrition and cancer: A review of the evidence for an anti-cancer diet. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1186/1475-2891-3-19
- The paper
- Donaldson, M. S. (2004). Nutrition and cancer: A review of the evidence for an anti-cancer diet. Nutrition Journal. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-3-19
Data sources
Bibliographic data: Semantic Scholar, OpenAlex, Crossref.
Contains information from the Semantic Scholar Academic Graph Datasets, made available under the ODC Attribution License (ODC-BY 1.0).
Semantic Scholar’s data is described in: Kinney, R., et al. (2023). The Semantic Scholar Open Data Platform. arXiv:2301.10140.