A combination of epidemiologic evidence, animal studies, and intervention trials provides evidence supporting the hypothesis that Western diets and lifestyle contribute to common forms of cancer including breast, colon, and prostate cancer. Antioxidants including vitamin E, ascorbic acid, and beta;-carotene and other micronutrients may have protective effects and may act as antipromoters of carcinogenesis. Rapid advances in research may lead to further advances that will reduce the incidence of these common forms of cancer and complement advances in the understanding of the molecular basis of cancer by elucidating the influence of nutrition on carcinogenesis. The complexity of the relationship between nutrition and lifestyle to common gastrointestinal cancers including colorectal and gastric cancers is rapidly advancing. General recommendations can be made based on the available evidence to encourage patients to reduce their risk of developing cancer through dietary modification, including increased intake of fruits and vegetables, high-fiber cereals and grains, and antioxidant micronutrients, while reducing the intake of fat and salted, pickled, and smoked foods.
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