ABSTRACT
References 215 A growing body of epidemiological evidence suggests that nutrition plays a predominant role in differences in incidence and mortality of major chronic diseases both within and between populations.1-4 Many epidemiological studies showed that a diet high in saturated fat and red meat was associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease1 and cancers of the female breast, prostate, colon, and rectum.3,4 Conversely, a high intake of vegetables and fruits, a rich source of antioxidants, was found to protect against these diseases.1-4 Salt intake in Korea, China, and Japan is among the highest in the world, which offers a reasonable explanation for the excessive risk of stomach cancer and stroke in these countries.5,6 Migrant studies lend further support to the importance of nutrition in the risk and pattern of diseases. After people in Asian countries immigrate to North America and gradually adopt the Western diet, they experience a decrease in incidence of stomach and liver cancers and an increase in incidence of female breast, prostate, colon, and rectal cancers.7,8
A fundamental prerequisite for any epidemiological studies on the relation between diet and disease is an accurate assessment of dietary intake of energy and nutrients in dietary surveys. Alcohol consumption is a common lifestyle habit in many populations worldwide. Alcohol intake itself has been linked to all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality in a number of epidemiological studies.9,10 However, it is still unclear whether alcohol drinkers adequately report their energy intake in dietary surveys, an issue that is
critical for validating and interpreting the findings obtained from epidemiological studies on nutrition and disease among alcohol drinkers.
