Ernährung und Nahrungsergänzungsmittel zur Prävention

An appropriate diet and a healthy lifestyle may effectively reduce the risk for cancer and cardiovascular disease. According to epidemiological data, women with the lowest adherence to nutrition and lifestyle recommendations are characterized by a 3‑fold higher increase of dying from cancer and a 4‑fold increase with regard to cardiovascular death. Evidently the impact of diet and lifestyle on cancer and cardiovascular disease goes beyond the effects of classical risk factors and may target inflammatory processes, epigenetic modification, and the intestinal microbiome. Hence, improving dietary and lifestyle habits is a major goal in terms of chronic disease prevention. The basis of dietary intervention should always be a shift from food of animal origin to fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grain products, while alcohol intake should be limited. Furthermore, a stable weight that is ideally within the normal range and a normal waist circumference are recommended. In healthy women, the micronutrient intake can essentially be met by adequate nutrition. In older women, vitamin B12 deficiency due to atrophic gastritis and lower plasma levels of vitamin D due to reduced endogenous synthesis capacity of the skin are common. However, in contrast to pharmaceuticals, the efficacy of dietary supplements in clinical trials must not be demonstrated prior to marketing. At present, the evidence for the use of most supplements is insufficient; therefore, general use in daily practice is not recommended. Regular intake of supplements without consulting a physician carries the risk of unknown side effects, inadequate dosages, and possible drugs interactions.