ABSTRACT
Caloric restriction can be achieved in several ways. The easiest approach involves simple underfeeding—the control animals are fed ad libitum and the test groups are fed less of the same diet. This chapter reviews historical and contemporary studies on caloric restriction. It discusses potential mechanisms by which caloric restriction affects carcinogenesis. There are a number of hypothetical mechanisms by which caloric restriction could exert its inhibitory effect. Influence of caloric restriction on mammotropic hormones could play a role in its effects on breast cancer. Alteration in peptide growth factors offers an attractive hypothesis for the action of caloric restriction. Generally, the role of insulin and its specific effects on tumor growth in vitro and in vivo are well documented. There are studies which suggest that caloric restriction may help the host to limit oxidative damage by increasing hepatic catalase and lipid peroxidation. Caloric restriction has also been shown to reduce oncogene expression.
