Topic of the Month
Micronutrients in the prevention of cancer – Part 1
1 April 2013
It is difficult to prove an unequivocal link between dietary habits and the avoidance of specific diseases, especially when the disease can be influenced by several factors. The sum of multi-factorial risks and protective mechanisms affects the development and prevention of diseases like cancer and cardiovas-cular disease over decades. Hence the positive effects of micronutrients on health, as well as the negative consequences of a slight but long-term insufficiency, are often only detectable after a long period of time. Although numerous scientific studies in recent years have shown that there is no significant association between the diet – for example the consumption of fruit and vegetables – and the incidence of certain cancers, there is much to indicate that the regular intake of sufficient amounts of vitamins, minerals and trace elements can contribute to the prevention of cancer and other lifestyle diseases.