DIETARY MODULATION OF SERUM PLATELET-DERIVED GROWTH FACTOR-AB LEVELS

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that diets high in vegetable s and fruit are associated with a decreased risk of cancer and, possib ly, cardiovascular disease, Certain constituents of vegetables and fru it inhibit the in vitro activity of platelet-derived growth factor (PD GF), a potent mitogen implicated in both cancer and cardiovascular dis ease, Few studies have measured PDGF in relationship to diet lit vivo. Specifically, there are no data regarding changes in PDGF levels or m itogenic activity after a dietary intervention, In this study, 19 youn g, healthy individuals consumed four (9-day) experimental diets in ran dom order: (a) control diet alone; (b) control diet plus carotenoid-ri ch vegetables; (c) control diet plus cruciferous vegetables; and (d) c ontrol diet plus soy foods, Compared to the control diet, there was a significant elevation in PDGF-AB serum levels when individuals were co nsuming the soy diet (P = 0.016), Increased PDGF-AB levels were also n oted for the carotenoid diet, There was no change from baseline levels when individuals were consuming the cruciferous diet, Overall, mitoge nic activity did not change on any of the experimental diets, This stu dy suggests that high soy and carotenoid diets increase serum levels o f PDGF-AB, This may represent an additional mechanism by which diet in fluences individual risk of cancer; further investigation into the rol e of diet and growth factors is warranted.