Move Over Sugar, Salt is the New Devil

First New York sought a salt ban. Then FDA planned a long-term initiative to reduce the salt in processed foods, in an effort to prevent thousands of deaths from hypertension and heart disease. Now comes word from National Cancer Institute scientists salt may be targeting young white adults aged 25 to 39.

The May 5 JAMA includes the research report on age-specific trends in stomach cancer incidence, which found significant incidence rate declines in all other age categories. The scientists examined new cases of lower stomach cancer between the years 1977 and 2006. While other genders/races saw as much as a third reduction in incidence, the young whites nearly doubled their incidence rate from 1 case per 400,000 people to 1 case per 200,000.

Cancer specialists were surprised by this increase, but stopped short of calling it alarming until they figure out why the increase appeared. Unlike upper stomach cancer, which is tied to gastric reflux, lower stomach cancer can be caused by chromic H. pylori infection—also a factor in stomach ulcers. Increased incidence has also been linked to diets high in salt and salt-preserved foods, and low in fresh fruits and vegetables, a combination common in Asia, where incidence has been historically higher.

Overall stomach cancer rates are falling due to improved food preservation technology and better hygiene, which lessens the likelihood of H, pylori infection. However, scientists note salt intake has risen dramatically in America, and they are investigating if this is the cause in increased stomach cancer rates in young white adults.

You can’t legally market dietary supplements or foods for diseases, but a number of such natural products have shown promising protective and inhibitive effects on stomach cancer, which is top killer of all adults. Based on these findings, if stomach cancer is your Boogie Man, eat a Mediterranean diet but load up on green tea, broccoli (including sprouts), cranberry juice and antioxidant nutrients, including provitamin A carotenoids.