ABSTRACT
On a Western diet, colon cancer is the major type of gastrointestinal cancer. Epidemiological studies have indicated that a decreased incidence of colon cancer may be associated with a number of factors. These include increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, increased dietary ber, increased exercise, increased intake of folic acid, calcium and vitamin D, and decreased fat consumption. Not all studies have been consistent and the relative importance of these factors is the subject of ongoing debate. This chapter will focus on a group of molecules found widely in fruits and vegetables that can be characterized as polyphenolic molecules. Evidence that they may have potential as either chemopreventive or therapeutic agents will be reviewed.
