Dietary intake of vegetables, fruits, and meats/beans as potential risk factors of acute myeloid leukemia: a Texas case-control study

The Overlooked Association Between Nutrition and the Development of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia: A Scoping Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) constitutes a mere 1% of global cancer cases. This scoping review aims to investigate the association between nutrition and the development of AML, providing a foundation for future research in this field.

RECENT FINDINGS

A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, EBSCO, Taylor and Francis, Science Direct and Cochrane Library using specific keywords. Inclusion criteria comprised observational studies and clinical trials examining the association between nutrition and the development of AML. Articles selected for analysis were restricted to those published in English between 1990-2023, and available as full text articles. Among the twenty-five articles that were screened, only six met the criteria for data extraction. Four studies did not reveal statistically significant correlations between nutrition and the development of AML, while two studies provided evidence for significant associations. The findings indicated increased AML risk associated with (a) heightened caloric intake, consumption of white potatoes, and red meat (pork and beef) and (b) diminished consumption of vegetables, seafood, nuts, and seeds. The scarcity of comprehensive studies exploring the connection between nutrition and AML, highlights the urgent need for additional research, encompassing pre-clinical studies. This imperative is critical for enhancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie the connection between diet and the aetiology of AML. Such knowledge is paramount in advancing effective strategies for both prevention and management of this significant disease.

Microbiota, Diet and Acute Leukaemia: Tips and Tricks on Their Possible Connections

Acute leukaemia is probably one of the most recurrent cancers in children and younger adults, with an incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 80% of cases and an incidence of acute myeloid leukaemia in 15% of cases. Yet, while incidence is common in children and adolescents, acute leukaemia is a rare disease whose aetiology still requires further analysis. Many studies have investigated the aetiology of acute leukaemia, reporting that the formation of gut microbiota may be modified by the start and development of many diseases. Considering that in patients affected by acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, there is an inherent disequilibrium in the gut microbiota before treatment compared with healthy patients, increasing evidence shows how dysbiosis of the gut microbiota provokes an inflammatory immune response, contributing to the development of cancer. Our analysis suggeststhe key role of gut microbiota in the modulation of the efficacy of leukaemia treatment as well as in the progress of many cancers, such as acute leukaemia. Therefore, in this paper, we present an examination of information found in literature regarding the role of dietary factors and gut microbiota alterations in the development of leukaemia and suggest possible future preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Association of Total Nut, Tree Nut, Peanut, and Peanut Butter Consumption with Cancer Incidence and Mortality: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Data on the association of nut intake with risk of cancer and its mortality are conflicting. Although previous meta-analyses summarized available findings in this regard, some limitations may distort their findings. Moreover, none of these meta-analyses examined the dose-response associations of total nut intake with the risk of specific cancers as well as associations between specific types of nuts and cancer mortality. Therefore, this study aimed to summarize available findings on the associations of total nut (tree nuts and peanuts), tree nut (walnuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, pecans, cashews, almonds, hazelnuts, and Brazil nuts), peanut (whole peanuts without considering peanut butter), and peanut butter consumption with risk of cancer and its mortality by considering the above-mentioned points. We searched the online databases until March 2020 to identify eligible articles. In total, 43 articles on cancer risk and 9 articles on cancer mortality were included in the current systematic review and meta-analysis. The summary effect size (ES) for risk of cancer, comparing the highest with lowest intakes of total nuts, was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.81, 0.92, P < 0.001, I2 = 58.1%; P < 0.01), indicating a significant inverse association. Such a significant inverse association was also seen for tree nut intake (pooled ES: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.78-0.96, P < 0.01, I2 = 15.8%; P = 0.28). Based on the dose-response analysis, a 5-g/d increase in total nut intake was associated with 3%, 6%, and 25% lower risks of overall, pancreatic, and colon cancers, respectively. In terms of cancer mortality, we found 13%, 18%, and 8% risk reductions with higher intakes of total nuts, tree nuts, and peanuts, respectively. In addition, a 5-g/d increase in total nut intake was associated with a 4% lower risk of cancer mortality. In conclusion, our findings support the protective association between total nut and tree nut intake and the risk of cancer and its mortality.

Dietary Patterns in Puerto Rican and Mexican-American Breast Cancer Survivors: A Pilot Study

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among Hispanic women. Certain dietary factors have been associated with the risk of breast cancer recurrence, but data in Hispanic survivors is scarce.

OBJECTIVE

to examine dietary patterns and diet quality in two groups of Hispanic breast cancer survivors.

METHODS

23 Mexican-American (MA) and 22 Puerto Rican (PR) female breast cancer survivors completed a culturally adapted validated food frequency questionnaire. Intake was standardized per 1000 kcal and compared to US Dietary Guidelines and the DASH-style diet adherence score was calculated.

RESULTS

Overweight/obese was 70 % in MA and 91 % in PR. PR consumed diets rich in fruit/100 % fruit juices and beans, while MA diets were high in vegetables, beans, and total grains. Both groups consumed high amounts of starchy vegetables, refined grains, animal protein and calories from solid fats and added sugars but low intakes of whole grains, dairy products and nuts and seeds. DASH scores were relatively low.

CONCLUSION

MA and PR female breast cancer survivors have different dietary patterns but both groups had relatively low diet quality. These groups could benefit from culturally tailored interventions to improve diet quality, which could potentially reduce cancer recurrence. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01504789.

Nut consumption and risk of cancer and type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

CONTEXT

The identification of foods that can decrease the risk of cancer and type 2 diabetes may be helpful in reducing the burden of these diseases. Although nut consumption has been suggested to have a disease-preventive role, current evidence remains inconsistent.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to clarify the association between nut consumption and risk of cancer or type 2 diabetes.

DATA SOURCES

Six databases were searched for relevant studies from the time of database inception to August 2014. Reference lists of relevant review articles were hand searched, and authors were contacted when data were insufficient.

STUDY SELECTION

Eligible studies included epidemiological studies (case-control and cohort) or clinical trials that reported an association between nut consumption and the outcome of type 2 diabetes or specific cancers.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two investigators independently extracted descriptive, quality, and risk data from included studies.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool relative risks from the included studies. The I(2) statistic was used to assess heterogeneity. A total of 36 eligible observational studies, which included 30,708 patients, were identified. The studies had fair methodological quality, and length of follow-up ranged between 4.6 years and 30 years. Comparison of the highest category of nut consumption with the lowest category revealed significant associations between nut consumption and decreased risk of colorectal cancer (3 studies each with separate estimates for males and females, RR 0.76, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 0.61-0.96), endometrial cancer (2 studies, RR 0.58, 95%CI 0.43-0.79), and pancreatic cancer (1 study, RR 0.68, 95%CI 0.48-0.96). No significant association was found with other cancers or type 2 diabetes. Overall, nut consumption was significantly associated with a reduced risk of cancer incidence (RR 0.85, 95%CI 0.76-0.95).

CONCLUSIONS

Nut consumption may play a role in reducing cancer risk. Additional studies are needed to more accurately assess the relationship between nut consumption and the prevention of individual types of cancer, given the scarcity of available data.

Farnesol activates the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis and the ATF4-ATF3-CHOP cascade of ER stress in human T lymphoblastic leukemia Molt4 cells

In this study, we demonstrate that treatment of T lymphoblastic leukemic Molt4 cells with farnesol activates the apoptosome via the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. This induction was associated with changes in the level of intracellular potassium and calcium, the dissipation of the mitochondrial and plasma membrane potential, release of cytochrome c, activation of several caspases, and PARP cleavage. The induction of apoptosis by farnesol was inhibited by the addition of the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk and by the exogenous expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl2. Analysis of the gene expression profiles by microarray analysis revealed that farnesol increased the expression of several genes related to the unfolded protein response (UPR), including CHOP and CHAC1. This induction was associated with the activation of the PERK-eIF2α-ATF3/4 cascade, but not the XBP-1 branch of the UPR. Although farnesol induced activation of the ERK1/2, p38, and JNK pathways, inhibition of these MAPKs had little effect on farnesol-induced apoptosis or the induction of UPR-related genes. Our data indicate that the induction of apoptosis in leukemic cells by farnesol is mediated through a pathway that involves activation of the apoptosome via the intrinsic pathway and induction of the PERK-eIF2α-ATF3/4 cascade in a manner that is independent of the farnesol-induced activation of MAPKs.

Diet and risk of adult leukemia: a multicenter case-control study in China

PURPOSE

Epidemiologic studies on diet and leukemia risk have shown inconsistent results. This study examined the associations between dietary factors and the risk of adult leukemia in Chinese populations.

METHODS

A multicenter case-control study was conducted in southeast and northeast China between 2008 and 2013. It included 442 incident cases with hematologically confirmed leukemia and 442 controls, individually match to cases by gender, birth quinquennium, and study site. Information on diet was sought from face-to-face interviews using a validated and reliable 103-item food frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by conditional logistic regression.

RESULTS

Vegetables intake was associated with decreased risk of adult leukemia, with a significant dose-response relationship and adjusted OR of 0.30 (95 % CI 0.18-0.50) for the highest versus the lowest quartiles intake. Compared with non-consumers, the adjusted OR was 0.51 (95 % CI 0.29-0.93) for those who consumed milk at the highest tertile. Intakes of fruits, red meat, poultry, and fish were not associated with the risk. Dietary nutrients, including dietary fiber, carotenoids, vitamins B1, B2, and C, niacin, and folate, were significantly associated with reduced risks. Elevated risk was related to dietary intake animal fat and dietary habits with frequent intakes of fat, deep-fried, and smoked foods ( p for trend <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that diets rich in vegetables and adequate amount of milk reduce the risk of adult leukemia, whereas diets preferring fat, deep-fried, and smoked foods increase the risk in Chinese populations.