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Hey everyone! My name is Sara and I am a clinic nurse in Surgical Oncology in Dublin.
1. What was the knowledge gained from the article?
Truthfully, when I read that this month’s discussion was regarding polyphenols, I had no idea what that was. It’s been very interesting reading what exactly polyphenols are and that they are present in those fruits and vegetables that we’ve always been told are beneficial and healthy to us. The fact that these compounds consist of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antiviral and antiallergic properties and that these benefits have been studied with several specific cancers so far is news to me and will be something that I continue to research.
2. Will the research/information in this article change or influence your practice? If so how?
To hear that 30-35% of cancer cases are associated with dietary factors and that more than 2/3 of human-associated cancers could be prevented with nutritional and lifestyle changes, is a much higher number than I would have ever thought and makes this topic very important for us and for our patients. I work with the high-risk breast cancer population, so we follow this population and discuss several preventative things that they can do to mitigate their risk of developing breast cancer. I will be able to further educate these patients of the importance of a good and balanced diet and making five servings of fruits and vegetables daily a priority. I’ve also looked into the Mediterranean diet and the emphasis on fruits and vegetables since reading these articles and have made some dietary changes in my own life as well.
3. Do you agree/disagree with the conclusions of the author, why?
I do agree with the conclusions of these articles and that the research has shown the several benefits of polyphenols, not just with cancer. It will be interesting to see where this research goes in the future and to see how that translates in our cancer patient population.
Jeff – You pose several great questions! To think all the amazing properties that these compounds provide, and we are only absorbing such a small amount of it! It would be very interesting to see if there are ways to improve absorption to further increase the benefit and if that topic is being researched.
Amy – I would also be very interested to hear what our pharmacist friends say regarding these articles and to hear their take on polyphenols, not in a high-dose supplement form, but when consumed as a part of a regular diet.
Does anyone know if the Garden of Hope program participants are able to take and eat any of the produce that is harvested or if it is strictly an educational program?
1. What was the knowledge gained from the article? So very interesting to read both articles! I did not realize the extent to which many different types of polyphenols can have a serious effect on the destruction and inhibition of cancer cells. I feel like so much information was shared in both articles about this and will be interested to see how this progresses into actualization for use in prevention and treatment.
2. Will the research/information in this article change or influence your practice? If so how?
I feel like this can definitely influence our practice. So many of our patients are looking for guidance on how to take actions that reduce their risks of progression or of other cancers developing. By recommending the consideration of a plant based diet, we can share with patients and their families actionable items that may have a positive impact on their symptoms and outcome. As most of our current patients already have a cancer diagnosis, some of this information would be even more helpful to share with patients during an annual visit or during a cancer screening.3. What other questions does the article raise about current practice? Based on the broad selection of cell lines and cancer types in the second article listed, it raises a question about what patients and families might want to focus on in terms of which polyphenols might be deemed most essential for their well-being/health maintenance. It also raises the question on the regulation of supplements and what safety requirements might need to be implemented before this can become a widespread and safe practice for all. Thank you so much!
Thanks so much for your post, Jeff. That’s so true and I didn’t even think about it the fact that foods that are rich in polyphenols can also be very pricy. I wonder what the efficacy of frozen fruits and vegetables might be, and if that would be a little more affordable for our patients, especially when we are not in the growing season in Ohio. Thank you!
Hi Amber, thanks so much for your post. That’s a great point/thought you shared about clinical trials to help explore more about the effect of polyphenol in a practical/practice setting. I feel like The James would be a great place to explore this, as we have so many clinical trials open and many wonderful team members who can collaborate on this. Thank you!
Also I think most of you guys have done so but if you haven’t responded to 2 peers please do so to get the CEU credit!!
i was trying to attach the link above but cant get it to work =(
Essentially, there is a table of supplements that we tell patients to avoid taking. Some big ones we get asked about a lot are evening primrose, DIM, turkey tail, milk thistle and tumeric. It also tells patient not to take Soy and Flax seed supplements, but okay in dietary consumption. Of interest to this topic is anti-oxidants, it specifically states fruits and veggies are a great natural source, but that research has shown herbal supplements of antioxidants have not shown any benefit.
Thank you Jeff for presenting this month. Such a great topic.
1) What was the knowledge gained from the article? Both articles highlight the anticancer properties of polyphenols, including their ability to modulate oxidative stress, inflammation and cell signaling pathways caused in cancer progression. I found it interesting that polyphenols can enhance chemotherapy effectiveness and reduce side effects.
3) What other questions does the article raise about current practice? What are the best doses and sources of polyphenols for cancer prevention? How do different polyphenols interact with chemotherapy or other treatments? Are there any potential adverse effects or contraindications in certain populations?
4) Do you agree/disagree with the conclusions of the author, why? I mostly agree. The articles provide strong molecular and clinical evidence supporting polyphenols in cancer prevention and treatment. I do believe a large scale human trial is needed to establish better more precise recommendations for clinical use.Jeff I do agree that we have always been told to eat our fruits and vegetables but do to so much GMO, soil depletion, chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and the fact that crops are now harvested before they fully ripen has caused a decline in the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables.
Trish and Patti I also agree that healthier foods and lifestyle choices can decrease your risk of cancer. In saying that I strongly believe environmental factors also play a significant role in people developing cancer. I remember when Amway was putting benzene in its cleaning products. I am not against the Mediterranean diet, the culture in the Mediterranean consume a lot of alcohol. I have started to make my own yogurt as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species have been proven to decrease GI cancer. You can’t get the probiotic you need in commercial yogurts.
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