Diet and Lifestyle Factors and Metabolic Phenotype Contribution to Cancer Risk

Contribution of Diet and Lifestyle Factors and Metabolic Phenotype to Cancer Risk in a Middle-to-Older Aged Irish Population

Led by Dr Catherine Phillips, this project was funded by an award from Breakthrough Cancer Research. Heart disease and cancer are the leading causes of mortality and these conditions share many of the same risk factors. Furthermore, cancer survivors are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Therefore, primary prevention of chronic conditions through modification of traditional risk factors is of paramount importance. Our research, led by postdoctoral researcher (and former PhD student) Dr Sean Millar, which has been published in (opens in a new window)leading (opens in a new window)journals (opens in a new window)in the field highlighted the importance of protective lifestyle factors including having a high-quality diet (rich in fruits, vegetables and legumes and low in added sugar and fats), moderate alcohol consumption, being physically active (particularly at moderate intensity), not smoking and having a normal BMI, in terms of achieving more favourable biomarker profiles and potentially conferring cardioprotective effects.