The February 2015 issue of the journal Cancer reported a finding among participants in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) of a lower risk of renal cell carcinoma in association with greater intake of lycopene, an antioxidant compound found in red fruit such as watermelon and tomatoes.

Cathryn Bock, PhD, MPH, and associates analyzed data from 96,196 postmenopausal women who enrolled in the WHI from 1993 to 1998 and were followed through July 2013. Dietary questionnaires completed upon enrollment were analyzed for the intake of lycopene and other antioxidants, and supplement use was ascertained in subject interviews.

Two hundred-forty women were diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma over follow-up. Among women whose intake of lycopene was among the top 25% of subjects, there was a 39% lesser risk of the disease in comparison with those whose intake was among the lowest 25%.

"Lycopene from food sources has also been associated with decreased risk of breast and prostate cancers, and a diet high in vegetables and fruits are generally well-accepted for promoting good health," noted Dr Bock, who is an associate professor of Oncology at Wayne State University's School of Medicine.

"Kidney cancer is a relatively rare cancer, and so focusing only on reducing risk of this disease would be short-sighted," she remarked. "Rather, a diet focused on one's own personal risk factors, such as family history, would be more beneficial."

Dr Bock's team is currently evaluating the relationship between antioxidant intake and kidney cancer risk in a case-control study involving participants from the Detroit area. "This study included a broader population, including both men and women, and with greater representation of African-Americans, and therefore may help describe the associations in populations beyond postmenopausal women who are primarily of European descent," she stated.

Insensitivity of tissues to circulating insulin (i.e., insulin resistance) is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome and has obesity as a major risk factor. While moderate post-meal increases in insulin are normal and signal tissues to take up glucose and store it as glycogen and fat, overconsumption can lead to accelerated increases in fat mass and excessive insulin production (i.e., hyperinsulinemia). Sustained hyperinsulinemia activates inflammatory pathways, which can lead to insulin resistance; although the mechanisms of this phenomenon are not clearly understood (Sung 2011; Bastard 2006). The appetite suppressing activity of insulin may be abolished in insulin-resistant obese individuals (Hagobian 2010), which may promote further weight gain by removing this important appetite control mechanism.

A National Institutes of Health panel established recommendations for the treatment of obesity based on BMI, waist circumference, and overall disease risk (Expert Treatment Panel 1998). The Panel recommends low-calorie or very-low calorie diets as the cornerstone of any weight-loss strategy, such as to create a deficit of 500-1000 calories/day and a weight loss of 1-2 lb/week. Lifestyle modification and weight loss are the recommended methods for lowering blood pressure and blood lipids (LDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides) in overweight/obese individuals, and for lowering blood glucose in overweight type 2 diabetes patients. The panel further recommends 30-45 minutes of moderate physical activity, 3-5 days per week, to promote weight loss and decrease abdominal fat.