摘要
It is well known that there are huge geographic variations in cancer rates in China's Mainland. For example, The National Cancer Control Office of the Ministry of Public Health (1979) reported that in the 1970s, cancer mortality rates for most cancers were found to be more than 20-fold greater in some counties in others (Table 1). Esophageal cancer rates for males are a few hundred fold greater in the highest county when compared with the lowest county. The mortality rate for all cancers combined for males is 21 fold greater in the county with the highest mortality than in the county with the lowest rate.According to Doll and Peto (1981), about one third of human cancer death is avoidable by appropriate modification of the diet. Therefore, diet is very likely to have an important part in causing these huge geographic variations. The possible role of various mutagens and carcinogens (e.g. afiatoxin, N-nitroso compounds) in locally produced and consumed foods has been strongly suggested and widely acknowledged, although much more evidence would be required to confirm their actual functions in human cancer. On the other hand, there are a few reports stating that the human diet also contains powerful antimutagens and anticarcinogens (Ames, 1983). The possible role of these two types of substances in causing the huge geographic variation of cancer risks remains elusive and inadequately explored. In order to make better use of these natural anticarcinogens in cancer prevention, it is important to elucidate their effects and mechanisms. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the available information on the antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic effects of natural foods in the Chinese diet, excluding the effects of essential nutrients, e.g. dietary fibers, vitamins and minerals. Most of the literature cited in this review was published by Chinese scientists.
It is well known that there are huge geographic variations in cancer rates in China's Mainland. For example, The National Cancer Control Office of the Ministry of Public Health (1979) reported that in the 1970s, cancer mortality rates for most cancers were found to be more than 20-fold greater in some counties in others (Table 1). Esophageal cancer rates for males are a few hundred fold greater in the highest county when compared with the lowest county. The mortality rate for all cancers combined for males is 21 fold greater in the county with the highest mortality than in the county with the lowest rate.According to Doll and Peto (1981), about one third of human cancer death is avoidable by appropriate modification of the diet. Therefore, diet is very likely to have an important part in causing these huge geographic variations. The possible role of various mutagens and carcinogens (e.g. afiatoxin, N-nitroso compounds) in locally produced and consumed foods has been strongly suggested and widely acknowledged, although much more evidence would be required to confirm their actual functions in human cancer. On the other hand, there are a few reports stating that the human diet also contains powerful antimutagens and anticarcinogens (Ames, 1983). The possible role of these two types of substances in causing the huge geographic variation of cancer risks remains elusive and inadequately explored. In order to make better use of these natural anticarcinogens in cancer prevention, it is important to elucidate their effects and mechanisms. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the available information on the antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic effects of natural foods in the Chinese diet, excluding the effects of essential nutrients, e.g. dietary fibers, vitamins and minerals. Most of the literature cited in this review was published by Chinese scientists.
