The Interplay between Structural Inequality, Allostatic Load, Inflammation, and Cancer in Black Americans: A Narrative Review.

Simple Summary: Racial healthcare disparities, driven by adverse living conditions, environmental factors, and systemic biases, significantly affect Black Americans, and they are associated with increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and, in turn, chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease and cancer. Addressing these disparities requires comprehensive systemic reforms alongside additional strategies such as increased exercise, stress reduction, and anti-inflammatory diets. This review highlights the relevant literature and aims to encourage further research on this important topic. The impact of racial healthcare disparities has been well documented. Adverse social determinants of health, such as poverty, inadequate housing, and limited access to healthcare, are intricately linked to these disparities and negative health outcomes, highlighting the profound impact that social and economic factors have on individuals' overall well-being. Recent evidence underscores the role of residential location on individual health outcomes. Despite the importance of a healthy lifestyle, regular physical activity, balanced nutrition, and stress management for favorable health outcomes, individuals living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas may face obstacles in achieving these practices. Adverse living conditions, environmental factors, and systemic biases against Black Americans perpetuate allostatic load. This, compounded by decreased physical activity and limited healthy food options, may contribute to increased oxidative stress and inflammation, fundamental drivers of morbidities such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Herein, we perform a narrative review of associations between healthcare disparities, chronic stress, allostatic load, inflammation, and cancer in Black Americans, and we discuss potential mechanisms and solutions. Additional research is warranted in the very important area of cancer disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]