Investigating New Trends in Cancer Prevention

Effects of Soy and Acai Berry on Cancer Risk

Presented By: Kelsey Albright

Do you think consuming soy products will increase or decrease risk of cancer?

What is Soy?

Bean & legume Forms:

Whole beans Flour Processed

Soymilk, tofu, cheese, soybean oil, yogurt, miso, tempeh, etc.

Soy Nutrition

Depends on form Unprocessed vs.

processed Good source of

protein ~40% of calories Vegetarians

Calories Protein CHO Fat Mature Soybeans (yellow), cooked

149 14.3 8.5 7.7

Soybeans, green (edamame)

127 11.1 10.0 5.8

Tempeh 165 15.8 14.1 6.4

Soynuts 194 17.0 14.1 9.3

Tofu, firm 183 19.9 5.4 11.0

Soy flour, defatted 82 11.8 9.6 0.3

Soymilk 100 7.0 8.0 4.0

Miso 71 4.1 9.7 2.1

What Does Soy Have to Do With Cancer? Research has shown

Asian populations have lower incidences of cancers

Key component: isoflavons Genitstein, daidzein, &

glycitein Effects are similar to

estrogen Caused concern for

women with high risk Focus on breast health

Estrogen

Navigating the Information

Most use google and wikipedia General information

What is soy? But…be cautious

Site biases, & falsified information Look for .org; .edu; & .gov

Specific nutritional benefits & consequences More credible

Go to the source! Does it have a link to a journal article?

Read abstract

Research

“Childhood Soy Intake and Breast Cancer Risk in Asian American Women”

Participants: Asian American women previously diagnosed with breast cancer

Method: interviews with women and mothers Lifestyle and historical questions Dietary intake of soy during childhood,

adolescence, and adulthood

Results:Soy Intake Cases/Controls RR (95% CI) fully adjusted

model Childhood (mother interviewed)

Low 41/50 1.0 Medium 30/51 0.43

High 26/52 0.4 Adolescence (subject interviewed)

Low 215/315 1.0 Medium 186/303 0.95

High 175/324 0.80 Adulthood (subject interviewed)

Low 205/298 1.0 Medium 222/339 0.99

High 164/325 0.76

Soy consumption during childhood may be preventative against breast cancer

Research

“Soy May Fuel Estrogen-Positive Breast Cancer”

Estrogen sensitive breast cancer stimulated by estrogen Genistein mimics effects of estrogen

Speeds growth of tumors “…I am concerned about the woman with a estrogen-

dependent cancer…She needs to be very careful about the amount of soy isoflavones she consumes”

William G. Helferich

Research

American Chemical Society (2004) Similar results Study performed in cell cultures

Addition of isoflavones genistein and daidzein to estrogen-sensitive breast cancer cells

Results: Products of isoflavones caused damage to the DNA of these cells Initiated tumor growth & progression

Soy and Breast Cancer

Difficult to research and find a

conclusive result because… Results vary depending on:

Ethnicity of participants Asian, American, or Asian-American

Cancer status of participants Before, during, or after cancer

Age of participants Pre- or postmenopause

What Do You Think?

Do you think soy is good or bad? Would you include or increase soy in your diet?

Why or why not?

NEITHER: Soy is Not Good or Bad

No conclusive argument or recommendation

More research needed Studies in cell culture and animals show negative

effects Unsure if human studies will show same results

Soy in moderation Use your best judgment

Acai Berry and Cancer Research

Do you think acai berry increases, decreases, or has no effect on cancer risk?

What is the Acai Berry?

Euterpe oleracae Fruit of the Amazon palm

tree Pulp or freeze-dried powder

forms “Superfood”

Cardiovascular & digestive health, energy, & anti-aging

Dr. Perricone on the Oprah Winfrey Show

Nutritional Composition of Acai

Berries have many healthy nutritional components High in vitamins,

minerals, and fiber; low in calories

Acai is a berry Fiber, vitamin A, iron,

calcium, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, and flavonoids

Calories 544.9 kcal Calories from fat 292.6 kcal Total fat 32.5 g Saturated fat 8.1 g Cholesterol 13.5 Mg Sodium 30.4 Mg Total carbohydrate 52.2 g Dietary fiber 44.2 g Sugars 1.3 g Protein 8.1 g Vitamin A 1002 IU Vitamin C <0.1 Mg Calcium 260.0 Mg Iron 4.4 Mg

100 g Freeze-Dried Acai

What Does Acai Have To Do With Cancer?

American Chemical Society Report High antioxidant content

Reduces stress on the body caused by oxidation Oxidation produces free radicals

Antioxidants remove free radicals caused by oxidation Factors causing oxidation

Digestion of food, pollution, cigarette smoking, radiation, and herbicides

High anthocyanin content linked to anti-cancerous effects

Research

Pharmaceutical Research Journal (2010) Methods:

Performed in rats Fed one of 7 berry types Measurement of number, and

sizes of tumors present in

esophagus Measurement of antioxidant

capacities of 7 berries

Results:

All berry types reduced number & multiplicity of tumors Antioxidant capacity was similar Anthocyanins & proanthocyanidins are key chemopreventative

components

Diet Tumor Incidence (%) Tumor Multiplicity Control 95 2.15 Control + 5% Black Raspberries

60 1.07

Control + 5% Blueberries 63 1.00 Control + 5% Strawberries

75 1.25

Control + 5% Red Raspberries (WGO2)

75 1.19

Control + 5% Red Raspberries (Meeker)

63 0.88

Control +5% noni 60 1.10 Control + 5% wolfberry 63 0.94

Control + 5% acai 75 1.19

Recommendations:

Ignore online scams and claims for fast weight loss and energy

Keep in mind that it is a fruit… But more research is needed

Incorporate acai into your diet don’t go overboard choose a sugar-free acai pulp

Make an Educated Decision

Tips: Determine the most reliable sources

Credible websites & journal articles Ask a professional!

Understand both sides of the issue Gradually include soy/acai into your diet

Rule of thumb: everything in moderation!

Recognize Error Google search results

Be wary of .com sites- anyone can create Sites that strongly encourage or discourage soy and acai berry

consumption No absolute evidence for a recommendation of intake

Product websites Example: promotion or advertisements of soy & acai bias

Focus will always be on benefits

News stories Usually based on credible research, but must dig deeper to

uncover all the facts

Recognizing Error in Journal Articles Cell Cultures

Provide a simulated environment Cannot replicate conditions that would occur naturally

Animals Similar genetic make-up to human, but not exact Susceptibility to tumors

Humans Confounding factors

Genetic predispositions Lifestyle factors