In recognition of World Cancer Day—taking place on February 4, 2017—Bel Marra Health has put together a roundup of articles featuring information on colorectal cancer and prostate cancer, as well as how these diseases relate to and are affected by diabetes, blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease.
Enzyme may prevent tumor growth in colorectal cancer
Researchers have found that an enzyme associated with inflammation may be effective in suppressing tumor and ulcer growth in colitis-associated cancer—a form of colorectal cancer. This type of cancer is driven by chronic inflammation, and while some inflammation is a healthy response to damaged tissue or pathogens, when left unregulated, it can cause malignant cells to form in the tissue that could potentially become cancer. The enzyme is called matrix-metalloproteinase, or MMP9, and has been found to suppress tumor growth within colitis-associated cancer caused by chronic inflammation. Continue reading…
Diabetes and blood pressure medications may help treat cancer
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Researchers found that combining a common drug for diabetes and a high blood pressure medication could possibly treat cancer. The researchers reported that this drug combination helped target specific cancer cells. One of the drugs is metformin, which is commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetes, and has been known to have some anti-cancer properties. When used alone, it’s not enough to actually combat cancer cells. However, when combined with syrosingopine, an antihypertensive drug, metformin’s anti-cancer effect seems to augment, causing cancer cells to die. Continue reading…
Blood pressure and colon cancer risk may be lowered with vegetarian diet: Study
Blood pressure and colon cancer risk may be lowered with a vegetarian diet. The researchers analyzed seven clinical trials and 32 studies where participants consumed a vegetarian diet. The researchers measured differences in blood pressure associated with eating a vegetarian diet.
The researchers found that adhering to a vegetarian diet was associated with reduced systolic blood pressure, along with reduced diastolic blood pressure, compared to eating a plant and animal (omnivorous) diet. The researchers concluded, “Further studies are required to clarify which types of vegetarian diets are most strongly associated with lower BP [blood pressure]. Research into the implementation of such diets, either as public health initiatives aiming at prevention of hypertension or in clinical settings, would also be of great potential value.” Continue reading…
Prostate cancer risk higher with alcohol consumption
An analysis of 27 studies has found that alcohol consumption can increase the risk of prostate cancer among men. The researchers found that even limited drinking—two drinks a day—was associated with an eight to 23 percent higher risk of prostate cancer, compared to no drinking at all.
Co-author Tim Stockwell explained, “This new study contributes to the strengthening evidence that alcohol consumption is a risk factor for prostate cancer. Alcohol’s contribution to prostate cancer will need to be factored into future estimates of the global burden of disease.” Continue reading…
Cardiovascular disease, cancer risk lowered by eating 20g of nuts a day: Study
New research suggests that consuming a handful of nuts a day can greatly benefit your health. The study found that eating 20 grams of nuts daily lowers the risk of developing various conditions. Heart disease risk was found to be reduced by 30 percent, cancer risk lowered by 15 percent, and premature death risk was lowered by 22 percent.
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Consuming 20 g of nuts a day was also associated with a risk of death from respiratory disease cut by half and a 40 percent reduction in the risk of diabetes.
The researchers analyzed 29 published studies from around the world which included nearly 819,000 participants in total, over 12,000 cases of coronary heart disease, 9,000 cases of stroke, 18,000 cases of cardiovascular disease and cancer, and more than 85,000 deaths. Continue reading…
Related: Weekend physical activities reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, cancer
