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A review of the Hispanic paradox: time to spill the beans?
Eur Respir Rev. 2014 Dec; 23(134):439-49.ER

Abstract

Past epidemiological observations and recent molecular studies suggest that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer are closely related diseases, resulting from overlapping genetic susceptibility and exposure to aero-pollutants, primarily cigarette smoke. Statistics from the American Lung Association and American Cancer Society reveal that mortality from COPD and lung cancer are lowest in Hispanic subjects and generally highest in African American subjects, with mortality in non-Hispanic white subjects and Asian subjects in between. This observation, described as the “Hispanic paradox”, persists after adjusting for confounding variables, notably smoking exposure and sociodemographic factors. While differences in genetic predisposition might underlie this observation, differences in diet remain a possible explanation. Such a hypothesis is supported by the observation that a diet high in fruit and vegetables has been shown to confer a protective effect on both COPD and lung cancer. In this article, we hypothesise that a diet rich in legumes may explain, in part, the Hispanic paradox, given the traditionally high consumption of legumes (beans and lentils) by Hispanic subjects. Legumes are very high in fibre and have recently been shown to attenuate systemic inflammation significantly, which has previously been linked to susceptibility to COPD and lung cancer in large prospective studies. A similar protective effect could be attributed to the consumption of soy products (from soybeans) in Asian subjects, for whom a lower incidence of COPD and lung cancer has also been reported. This hypothesis requires confirmation in cohort studies and randomised control trials, where the effects of diet on outcomes can be carefully examined in a prospective study design.

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Authors+Show Affiliations

Young RP
Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand roberty@adhb.govt.nz.
Hopkins RJ
Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

MeSH

Black or African AmericanAsianDietDisease SusceptibilityFabaceaeGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseHispanic or LatinoHumansIncidenceInflammationLung NeoplasmsPulmonary Disease, Chronic ObstructiveRisk FactorsWhite People

Pub Type(s)

Comparative Study
Journal Article
Review

Language

eng

PubMed ID

25445942

Citation

Young, Robert P., and Raewyn J. Hopkins. "A Review of the Hispanic Paradox: Time to Spill the Beans?" European Respiratory Review : an Official Journal of the European Respiratory Society, vol. 23, no. 134, 2014, pp. 439-49.
Young RP, Hopkins RJ. A review of the Hispanic paradox: time to spill the beans? Eur Respir Rev. 2014;23(134):439-49.
Young, R. P., & Hopkins, R. J. (2014). A review of the Hispanic paradox: time to spill the beans? European Respiratory Review : an Official Journal of the European Respiratory Society, 23(134), 439-49. https://doi.org/10.1183/09059180.00000814
Young RP, Hopkins RJ. A Review of the Hispanic Paradox: Time to Spill the Beans. Eur Respir Rev. 2014;23(134):439-49. PubMed PMID: 25445942.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - A review of the Hispanic paradox: time to spill the beans? AU - Young,Robert P, AU - Hopkins,Raewyn J, Y1 - 2014/12/01/ PY - 2014/12/3/entrez PY - 2014/12/3/pubmed PY - 2015/7/29/medline SP - 439 EP - 49 JF - European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society JO - Eur Respir Rev VL - 23 IS - 134 N2 - Past epidemiological observations and recent molecular studies suggest that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer are closely related diseases, resulting from overlapping genetic susceptibility and exposure to aero-pollutants, primarily cigarette smoke. Statistics from the American Lung Association and American Cancer Society reveal that mortality from COPD and lung cancer are lowest in Hispanic subjects and generally highest in African American subjects, with mortality in non-Hispanic white subjects and Asian subjects in between. This observation, described as the “Hispanic paradox”, persists after adjusting for confounding variables, notably smoking exposure and sociodemographic factors. While differences in genetic predisposition might underlie this observation, differences in diet remain a possible explanation. Such a hypothesis is supported by the observation that a diet high in fruit and vegetables has been shown to confer a protective effect on both COPD and lung cancer. In this article, we hypothesise that a diet rich in legumes may explain, in part, the Hispanic paradox, given the traditionally high consumption of legumes (beans and lentils) by Hispanic subjects. Legumes are very high in fibre and have recently been shown to attenuate systemic inflammation significantly, which has previously been linked to susceptibility to COPD and lung cancer in large prospective studies. A similar protective effect could be attributed to the consumption of soy products (from soybeans) in Asian subjects, for whom a lower incidence of COPD and lung cancer has also been reported. This hypothesis requires confirmation in cohort studies and randomised control trials, where the effects of diet on outcomes can be carefully examined in a prospective study design. SN - 1600-0617 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/25445942/full_citation DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -