Dietary Habits and Prostate Cancer Prevention: A Review of Observational Studies by Focusing on South America

• Published in: Nutrition and cancer Vol. 64; no. 1; pp. 23 - 33
• Main Authors: Niclis, Camila, Díaz, María del Pilar, Eynard, Aldo Renato, Román, María Dolores, Vecchia, Carlo La
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis Group 2012; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: alpha-linolenic acid; Arsenic - toxicity; Calcium - adverse effects; Calcium - pharmacology; Cancer; Carotenoids - pharmacology; Dairy Products; Diet; diet study techniques; Diets; Disease prevention; eating habits; Eggs; Epidemiologic Studies; epidemiological studies; Epidemiology; Fatty acids; Feeding Behavior; Fruit; Fruits; grains; Humans; lycopene; Lycopersicon esculentum - chemistry; Male; Meat; observational studies; Prostate cancer; prostatic neoplasms; Prostatic Neoplasms - prevention & control; red meat; Reviews; risk; Risk Factors; Selenium - pharmacology; South America - epidemiology; vegetable consumption; Vegetables; South America
• ISSN: 1532-7914; 0163-5581; 1532-7914
• DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2012.630163

There exist several works considering the association between diet and prostate cancer (PC) risk, but the issue is largely unsettled. This article systematically reviews the epidemiological studies on diet and risk of PC focusing on those carried out in countries of South America. There is some suggestion that dairy products, red meat, processed meat, α-linolenic fatty acids, as well as dietary patterns characterized by higher intakes of red and processed meat, eggs, and grains may play some role in the development of PC. There is no clear association with the intake of vegetables and fruits, lycopene, fats, and different types of fatty acids. The evidence on diet and PC is therefore inconclusive in general and specifically in South America. Particular attention must be paid to the study of cancer risk in some countries of South America because of the singularly risky dietary pattern consumed by its population.