Gene–Nutrient Interaction and Cancer Prevention

Research on carcinogenesis has provided a plethora of knowledge regarding cancer. Cancer cells are the product of numerous genetic abnormalities that are brought on by exposure to environmental, dietary, and viral factors. Presently, it is broadly acknowledged that dietary choices can influence how genes interact to cause a variety of diseases, including cancer. However, the specific mechanisms underlying these interactions between genes and nutrients are still not entirely known. Dietary components can affect the expression of genes implicated in the development of cancer as well as cancer susceptibility by epigenetic modifications. According to compelling data, many nutrients, including phytochemicals, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals, have protective effects in the prevention of cancer. These nutrients function by influencing the mechanisms that regulate DNA repair, apoptosis, the cell cycle, etc. Additionally, nutrient–gene interactions regulate oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways, which are crucial for the growth of cancer. Moreover, genetic variations are known to alter dietary requirements and responses, which in turn influences cancer risk. Our expanding knowledge of gene–nutrient interactions may possibly result in personalized dietary interventions for the prevention of cancer. Therefore, diet is a promising strategy that might be utilized not just to prevent cancer but also, ideally, to treat it. In this chapter, we will focus on the interaction of different nutrients with genes and their protective effects in cancer prevention and incorporate our growing understanding of genetic predisposition to help us better understand diet, nutrition, and cancer.