The Role of Diet in Disease Prevention and Management

Abstract

Objective – The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate specific diets that have demonstrated, through research, efficacy for treating specific diseases. The diets that will be discussed are: Anti-cancer and vegetarian for cancer prevention and active cancer, low carbohydrate diet for cancerous tumor growth suppression, Paleolithic for diabetes and metabolic syndrome and the FODMAP and IgG food sensitivity elimination diets for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn’s and Ulcerative colitis. Basic Procedures – The databases used for searching peer reviewed research and articles were PubMed and Google Scholar®. Main articles searched were studies that targeted diets for particular disease conditions. Articles and journal entries selected were published within the past 22 years with most articles being in the past 10 years. Main Findings – There are many tentative dietary suggestions based on known compounds in food to have anti-cancer effects. Epidemiological studies of populations in India and Asia who follow a vegetarian diet due to religious convictions show efficacy in preventing certain types of cancer. The Paleolithic diet is efficacious in reversing Type II Diabetes and metabolic syndrome based on the anti-inflammatory and low glycemic index foods consumed. Despite the high amounts of saturated fat in the diet, the Paleolithic diet can lower cardiovascular disease markers. The FODMAP diet is beneficial for managing symptoms of IBS and IBD. IgG food sensitivity testing and elimination of sensitive foods can eliminate and/or reduce IBD flare ups. No studies were found to support a cure for IBD with IgG food sensitivity elimination or any other diet. Principal Conclusions - No specific diet for cancer has been double blind, randomized and placebo control tested for efficacy to date. However, it is important that diets that restrict sugars and refined carbohydrates should be recommended as cancer cells proliferate in a high glucose environment. Paleolithic diets are suggested as a beneficial diet for Type II Diabetes, 3 metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease risk factors. The FODMAP diet is efficacious in the treatment of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. However, its use in IBD may be beneficial for some patients. Food IgG sensitivity elimination is beneficial for IBD.