Epidemiological studies show:

Asian diet - The best cancer prevention

Dr. Viraj PERAMUNA

ASIAN DIET: In a paper on 'Soybean', the American Soybean Association say that Epidemiological studies done in the US on cancer prevention had shown that those who consuming a typical Asian diet have shown a lower incidence of cancer than those consuming a Western diet.

The relevant paragraph reads -

"Epidemiological studies show that populations which consume a typical Asian diet have lower incidences of breast, prostate and colon cancers than those consuming a 'Western diet'.

Here's the paper which makes health promoting reading for all of us, specially those who look down upon our traditional home cooked rice and curry diets.

In the United States, cancer is the second leading cause of death. Lifestyle factors are important in the etiology of the disease.

Cigarette smoking, physical inactivity and poor diet all contribute to cancer risk. Scientific evidence indicates that one third of cancer deaths in the Untied States are due to dietary factors.

Epidemiological studies show that populations which consume a typical Asian diet have lower incidences of breast, prostate and colon cancers than those consuming a Western diet. The Asian diet includes mostly plant foods, including legumes, fruits and vegetables and is low in fat. The Japanese have the highest consumption of soyfoods.

On the other hand, the typical Western diet includes large amounts of animal foods, is lower in fiber and complex carbohydrates and is high in fat. Soyfoods are dietary staples in the Orient, but are not commonly included in the Western diet.

Japan has a very low incidence of hormone-dependent cancers. The mortality rate from breast and prostate cancers in Japan is about one-fourth that of the Untied States.

There is evidence that suggests the difference in cancer rates is not due to genetics, but rather to diet. Migration studies have shown that when Asians move to the Untied States and adopt a Western diet, they ultimately have the same cancer incidence as Americans.

The American Cancer Society has created guidelines designed to help reduce the risk for cancer. Their recommendations include:

* Choose most of the foods you eat from plant sources

* Limit your intake of high-fat foods, particularly from animal sources

Soyfoods fit these guidelines for a health-promoting diet. Soybeans contain high quality protein, and make an excellent substitute for animal foods. Soyfoods and soy products are amazingly versatile, and can easily be incorporated into a varied diet.

Because of the trends seen in the epidemiological studies, case-control studies have been conducted to find out whether there may be a relationship between the consumption of soyfoods and decreased cancer risk.

A study of dietary intakes and breast cancer showed that in premenopausal women, high intakes of animal protein were associated with increased risk, while high intakes of sofyfoods were associated with decreased risk.

Other long-term studies have noted an inverse association between regular consumption of miso soup and breast cancer risk in premenopausal women. This association has not been shown in postmenopausal women.

In Hawaii, a long-term study of 8,000 men of Japanese ancestry showed that men who ate tofu daily were only one-third as likely to get prostate cancer as those who ate tofu once a week or less.

Other case-control studies conducted in Asia have shown an association between regular consumption of tofu or other soyfoods and a 66 per cent to 80 per cent decreased risk for rectal cancer.

Anticarcinogens in Soybeans - Soybeans contain five classes of compounds which have been identified as anticarcinogens. These include isoflavones, saponin, phytates, protease inhibitors and phytosterols.

Most of these substances can be found in many different plant foods, but soy is the only significant dietary source of isoflavones. Soy isoflavones, especially genistein, have been the subject of a tremendous amount of cancer research.

'You look young for your age'

HEALTHWATCH co-ordinated Prof. Colvin Goonaratna Centenarian Study no. 42 in progress at Matara.

Pictured here is Dr. S. Seneviratna Epa (MBBS, MD, FRCP, (Lond), (FCGP) consultant family physician Matara and ex-President SLMA (right) checking the degree of limb movement capability of the 102-year-old centenarian David Jayasekera of 'Tharanga,' Ratmale, Matara, a retired teacher and school principal, who has a family circle of 35 children, grand and great grand-children.

young for your age

He still walks about independently, reads without glasses and writes with ease. No trembling fingers. His pressure was 130-80 which made Dr. Epa to comment "you are remarkably young for your age almost in every respect medically.

Your pressure is that of a youth at 25 years of age. What is your secret in life for this healthy state in the evening of your life?"

"Just three things doctor. Jealous free heart, honesty in my work, meditation and cycling," replied the centenarian.

His family members said that he had been cycling up to 92 years of age and it was with difficulty that they got him to stop. He walks up to the junction about half a kilo metre away daily in the morning to bring the paper. A detailed account of this centenarian's life will be carried shortly in this page.

Dr. Viraj Peramuna and Nutritionist Karapitiya Hospital Galle MGTP Mahanama BSc (Sp) Nutrition and Dietician comprised the study team.

Vitamin C after heart attack improves exercise ability

NEW YORK - Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) supplements improve the response of the sympathetic nervous system during exercise in patients who have had a heart attack (myocardial infarction), according to a report in the International Journal of Cardiology.

The sympathetic nervous system is a part of the nervous system that controls heart rate and other involuntary body responses. Patients with heart disease sometimes have poor sympathetic function, the authors explain, but whether or not antioxidants can improve this complication remains unclear.

Dr. Kazuyo Kato and colleagues from Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, investigated whether ascorbic acid influenced the sympathetic response to exercise in 21 men who were studied at least one month after a myocardial infarction.

The participants underwent symptom-limited exercise testing twice, once 2 hours after oral administration of 2 grams of ascorbic acid and once without the supplement.

Although resting blood pressure and heart rate did not differ with or without ascorbic acid, the authors report, the heart rate response to peak exercise was significantly higher, an indication of better heart function, after ascorbic acid than without ascorbic acid.

- Reuters

Health Quest Programme no. 4:

S.R.T. for stroke detection at home

CONSULTANT Neurologist Dr. Githanjan Mendis will be the guest speaker in this programme, where he will be speaking on the topic 'How to detect an oncoming stroke at home' and thus save serious complications and life of the patient concerned very often.

Since this is a very useful talk by a well-known specialist on the subject, and much to gain by way of saving lives from stroke deaths, we are expecting a good attendance.

Hence we would appreciate very much if you could fill up the coupon below and send it to reach us by September 27 the latest, with a question on the topic which you would like to get answered/clarified by the speaker.

The sponsors of this programme Philo Biotics of 120/11, Vidya Mawatha, Colombo 7, will be offering three cash prizes of Rs. 2,000, Rs. 1,500 and Rs. 1,000 to the first three questions picked, from those who have sent in the questions and present in the audience.

The Talk

The talk will be held on Sunday October 01 at 10.30 a.m. at the Sports Ministry, Sports Medicine Unit Auditorium at Independence Square, Colombo 7.

Come for the Talk and learn the S.R.T. method, and win prizes too from Philo Biotics.

Statistics

According to the latest Neurological statistics 1 out of every 10 beds in hospitals anywhere in the world is occupied by a stroke patient.