Protective Role of Dietary Berries in Cancer

Abstract

Dietary patterns, including regular consumption of particular foods such as berries as well as bioactive compounds, may confer specific molecular and cellular protection in addition to the overall epidemiologically observed benefits of plant food consumption (lower rates of obesity and chronic disease risk), further enhancing health. Mounting evidence reports a variety of health benefits of berry fruits that are usually attributed to their non-nutritive bioactive compounds, mainly phenolic substances such as flavonoids or anthocyanins. Although it is still unclear which particular constituents are responsible for the extended health benefits, it appears that whole berry consumption generally confers some anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory protection to humans and animals. With regards to cancer, studies have reported beneficial effects of berries or their constituents including attenuation of inflammation, inhibition of angiogenesis, protection from DNA damage, as well as effects on apoptosis or proliferation rates of malignant cells. Berries extend effects on the proliferation rates of both premalignant and malignant cells. Their effect on premalignant cells is important for their ability to cause premalignant lesions to regress both in animals and in humans. The present review focuses primarily on in vivo and human dietary studies of various berry fruits and discusses whether regular dietary intake of berries can prevent cancer initiation and delay progression in humans or ameliorate patients' cancer status.

Keywords: anthocyanins; antioxidants; cancer; chemoprevention; edible berries; flavonoids; phytochemicals.

Figure 1

Schematic depiction of cancer development/progression.

Figure 2

Major nutrition/diet-related factors/stressors that can contribute to cancer.

Figure 3

Conceptual schematic representation depicting the contribution of oxidative stress and inflammation in the deregulation/disturbance of homeostatic balance in a cell, thus leading to cancer. Berries by means of their numerous constituents (synergistic action) can interrupt this vicious cycle, thereby extending protective effects against cancer.

Figure 4

Major types of flavonoids (chemical structures produced via the eMolecules platform developed by eMolecules Inc., La Jolla, CA, USA).

Figure 5

Major types of anthocyanins and characteristic examples of foods (berries) rich in the respective compounds (chemical structures produced via the eMolecules platform developed by eMolecules Inc., La Jolla, CA, USA).