Class Central is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Wageningen University

Nutrition and Cancer

Wageningen University via edX

Overview

Can cancer risk be reduced through a healthy diet or lifestyle? Many studies have been conducted on the role of nutrition and physical activity in cancer prevention. This has resulted in recommendations for cancer prevention. Far less research is conducted on nutrition and cancer progression, but the evidence is increasing that a healthy diet may also play a beneficial role for cancer survivors. Join this online course and learn more about the role of nutrition in the occurrence and progression of cancer. You will learn how nutrition is involved in cancer occurrence, cancer treatment, and progression. And you will discover what the evidence-base is for dietary guidelines.

This online course focuses on a wide range of dietary exposures (including vegetables, meat, dietary supplements, alcohol) and lifestyle factors (including body composition and physical activity) in relation to the occurrence and progression of the most common types of cancer, such as large bowel cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer.

For whom?

Dieticians and physicians often get questions from cancer patients about what they can do themselves to help their recovery process. After completing the course you will have gained a solid scientific basis to better weigh and interpret all the information available on nutrition and cancer and to take care of your own health and/or that of your patients.

This online course is especially valuable for professionals (in training) from various fields related to nutrition or cancer (e.g. nutritionists, epidemiologists, health policy makers, physicians, caregivers, nutrition educators, biologists and food scientists).

This course, is part of theNutrition and Disease Professional Certificate Program of Wageningen University & Research. Did you already complete Nutrition, Heart Disease and Diabetes? That is the other course in this Professional Certificate Program.

Syllabus

Module 1
Start with an introduction to the relation between nutrition and cancer development and progression, and discuss the different types of research designs by which this relation is studied.

Module 2
Discuss dietary and lifestyle risk factors related to cancer occurrence, by outlining the current WCRF/IARC evidence-based recommendations for cancer prevention.

Module 3
Learn about the interaction between nutrition and genes, and how this can influence cancer occurrence.

Module 4
Learn about the importance of dietary and lifestyle guidelines for the increasing group of cancer survivors.

Module 5
In this module you will learn about the adherence to guidelines and how important it is to have a clear and correct communication to the public. (This module is only accessible to verified learners.)

Taught by

Ellen Kampman, Fränzel van Duijnhoven and Dieuwertje Kok

Reviews

4.4 rating, based on 288 Class Central reviews

Start your review of Nutrition and Cancer

  • A very nice class. Well organized and taught by researchers from a great institute. Still, I think, the name is misleading. There is not much direct information about nutrition and cancer, as the title suggests! There is a lot of information about...
  • A highly insightful course for anyone to pursue. This great course introduces most aspects from prevention to survival, and even on press reporting. Of great help for anyone to access information and research interests would be the topics on types...
  • You will learn about the Wold Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) recommendations for cancer prevention, the types of research in cancer and nutrition. There is additional learning in critically analysing media communication around nutrition and cancer. I did this course for personal growth as a cancer survivor - highly recommend!
  • Brilliant course, logical, interesting and assessments are good. Two of the video's glitched and took longer to play but that may have been my end? Thank you for such an interesting, research based and practical how to course.
  • Not as extensive or carefully edited as the Cardiometabolic Disease class but still solid and full of compelling information.
  • Anonymous
    This course is very informative with the latest updates related to Nutrition and cancer and is a good learning experience as an online course. The lectures through videos with the script on the side is very useful in understanding the concepts explained,...
  • Anonymous

    Anonymous is taking this course right now.

    This course is good but it should have a more information about what's to do with patients to give them a good advice about what they sohled eat , I want to know many examples about this and also this course does not have a practical part.
  • Anonymous
    I have thoroughly enjoyed this course and have learned a lot both about the role nutrition can play in stacking the odds against developing cancer as well as how cancer research is conducted and recommendations are determined. Like most people, I read a lot of health related data and try to discern what is worth additional reading and what is 'hype'. After taking this course and understanding how studies are planned, developed and conducted, the challenges associated with them, and then how the results are interpreted .. I am not an expert but I certainly have a much better understanding of causal vs. associated.
    Thank you very much for putting on this MOOC. I have been sending it to many friends to enjoy and learn.
  • Anonymous
    Highly insightful course for anyone interested to pursue, whether as an introduction to the subject or for research interests. The topics discussed from the types of cancer and the methods of approach to intervention gives good general knowledge on how cancer is managed, from lifestyle to diet adaptations to the use of supplementation. There were touch points on epigenetics and great tips on guidelines for cancer survivors with many links to references for deeper understanding and research. Would highly recommend everyone to participate in this course, especially as cancer is so prevalent now.
  • Anonymous

    Anonymous is taking this course right now.

    Nutrition and cancer is a general course. It creates awareness about the importance and difficulties of nutrition in the process of cancer formation and treatment. The interaction of nutrition with genetic and epigenetic factors in cancer patients is...
  • Anonymous
    I appreciate all the helpful and interesting information taught in this course. Learning official guidelines from world organizations has been enlightening. I look forward to feeling equipped and joining the community of people working to make a difference...
  • Anonymous
    The experience in taking part in this course has been awesome. Name like Prof. Ellen Kampman and Prof. Sanders Kersten, among others, will remain a household name in my practice. I have a burning desire to gain professional control over the growing syndemic...
  • Anonymous
    Excellent presentation. congrats on a well conceived and developed course! I particularly appreciated coverage of research techniques at the beginning of the course so that students can understand the rigor of making scientific recommendations. 4/5 points!

    My only slight disappointment is that the state of research is not far along. I was hoping that to hear more recommendations other than exercise, don't get fat and stay clear of known carcinogens.
  • Anonymous
    Excellent presentation. congrats on a well conceived and developed course! I particularly appreciated coverage of research techniques at the beginning of the course so that students can understand the rigor of making scientific recommendations. 4/5 points!

    My only slight disappointment is that the state of research is not far along. I was hoping that to hear more recommendations other than exercise, don't get fat and stay clear of known carcinogens.
  • Khalifa Ismaeil
    It's really an amazing course presented in such an easy way and the videos you watch are sort of mini lectures which is great. The amount of informationyou can get from these under 15-minute videos incredible. Also the thing about the written words that combine every video is pure genius and helpful in many ways.

    In a nutshell, this is the best course I've ever had and it's videos are probably more useful than my two or three-hour math lectures I had in college.
  • Anonymous
    As stated in this course, that cancer can happen to anyone, including those closest to them. That's the reason I took this class. I'm curious, is my treatment for cancer patients at my home correct? Although it hasn't really been answered, because of my limited time in attending this class, but at least I've recorded it for me to study seriously later.
    Thank you Wageningen for providing information.
  • Anonymous
    This course has helped me gain a better understanding about cancer prevention, the role diet and lifestyle plays in cancer prevention, how studies are conducted, and more. The course is self-paced and you can read responses and reply to other students in the forum! I recommend this course to everyone.
  • Anonymous
    Absolutely incredible learning experience. Worth my time and every single penny. Couldn´t be any more pleased with the way information is presented and the learning tools that are available. I would recommend this course to anyone and will definitely check out other courses by Wageningen.
  • Anonymous
    This course has helped me understand the direct link between nutrition and cancer and makes you think about what you will eat, it opens up the difficulties experienced by experimentation and clinical studies. I for one have already introduced more fibre in my diet.
  • Anonymous
    This course is very great and supportive due to what I have leant and to my opinion, this course is strong, hundred percent rate.
    spread MOOC has been a help to me and would be helping others to learn in their comfort zone.

Never Stop Learning.

Get personalized course recommendations, track subjects and courses with reminders, and more.