Nutrients and Supplementation

Question 1

Which nutrients support detoxification of carcinogens?

Answer 1

isothiocyanates, flavonoids?

Question 2

Which nutrients support the protection of DNA from oxidation?

Answer 2

Vitamin A, C, D, E, and selenium

Question 3

Which nutrients support DNA repair?

Answer 3

Folate, selenium, lycopene, retinoids

Question 4

Which nutrients support cell cycle regulation?

Answer 4

Polyphenols, retinoids, folate, selenium

Question 5

Which nutrients support the promotion of cell differentiation?

Answer 5

Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, retinoic acid

Question 6

Which nutrients support induction of apoptosis in initiated cells?

Answer 6

Curcumin, polyphenols, sulforaphane, isothiocyanates, quercetin, lycopene

Question 7

Which nutrients support the prevention of angiogenesis?

Answer 7

Indol-3-carbinol, curcumin

Question 8

Which nutrients support the suppression of inflammation?

Answer 8

Omega-3 fatty acids, indol-3-carbinol

Question 9

Which nutrients support the regulation of hormonal signals?

Answer 9

Soy isoflavones, vitamin D, carotenoids

Question 10

Which foods contain the most ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), an essential omega 3 fatty acid?

Answer 10

Plant foods (flax seeds, chia seeds, walnuts, soybeans, plant oils - soy, canola, flaxseed)

Question 11

What are two key components in flaxseeds that most research so far has focused on?

Answer 11

ALA and lignans

Question 12

What is a functional food, according to AND?

Answer 12

“Whole foods along with fortified, enriched, or enhanced foods that have a potentially beneficial effect on health when consumed as part of a varied diet on a regular basis at effective levels based on significant standards of evidence”

Question 13

What are some natural sources of resistant starch (a prebiotic)?

Answer 13

Bananas, legumes, beans, brown rice, quinoa, lentils, raw oat products, and raw potato starch

Question 14

What food is the best non-fish source of omega-3 fatty acids, in the form of ALA?

Answer 14

Flaxseed

Question 15

What food is a good source of inulin-type fructans?

Answer 15

Chicory root

Question 16

What are the benefits of inulin?

Answer 16

Improves glucose tolerance, promotes bowel regularity, improves absorption of Mg and Ca, increases amounts of healthy bacteria while reducing levels of pathogenic bacteria in the colon, allows for production of butyrate (SCFA) which inhibits growth of colon tumor cells and promotes apoptosis

Question 17

How may phytochemicals play a role in cancer chemoprevention?

Answer 17

By suppressing oxidative stress-induced DNA damage

Question 18

Why is St. John’s Wort problematic when taking certain medications?

Answer 18

It may influence the cytochrome P-450 (CYP) enzyme system and reduce concentrations of some drugs (including imatinib and irinotecan, which are commonly used in cancer treatments)

Question 19

What are some supplements that may interfere with the cytochrome P-450 enzyme system?

Answer 19

St. John’s Wort, Allium sativum (garlic), Panax ginseng, Ginko biloba, silybum marianum (milk thistle)

Question 20

What are the four botanical dietary supplements that have been found to cause drug-supplement interactions in human trials?

Answer 20

St. John’s Wort, Goldenseal, Echinacea, and Allium (Garlic) oil

Question 21

True or False: Antioxidant supplements should be routinely recommended to patients undergoing cancer therapy.

Answer 21

False, supplemental antioxidants should be used with great caution, especially among those seeking a curative regimen