Diet Linked to One in Three Cancers

LONDON (Reuters Health) - Almost one in three cancers could be prevented through healthier eating, a major international conference heard this week.

Researchers making presentations at the European Conference on Nutrition and Cancer in Lyon, France, linked thousands of cases of cancer in the western world to poor diet and a lack of exercise.

Conference attendees were also told of the preliminary findings of one of the world's largest studies investigating the relationship between the disease and what people eat.

The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)--one of the biggest in terms of individual data--has confirmed many previous studies showing that some food can increase the risks of cancer while others can have a protective effect on the human body.

However, it has also provided some new ideas and raised doubts about previously long-held theories.

The study, which is looking at the diets of more than 500,000 people from nine European countries, has confirmed once again that eating fruit and vegetables can ward off the disease, in particular colon and rectal cancer.

However, it casts doubts on the protective effects of fruit and vegetables on other cancers. For instance, the study found no evidence to suggest they can ward off cancers of the stomach and lungs.

``We do confirm that the consumption of fruit and vegetables reduces the risk of colorectal cancer and cancers of the mouth, pharynx and oesophagus,'' Dr. Elio Riboli, one of the organisers of the conference and one of those heading up the study, told Reuters Health.

``But we were surprised not to find at this early stage a clear protection for cancer of the stomach and lungs...for the time being the protection for lung and stomach cancer is a little weaker than we expected,'' he added.

The preliminary results have also raised questions about the long-held belief that eating red meat can increase the risk of cancer.

``For years there has been a fear that red meat, particularly beef, lamb and pork, could increase the risk of colorectal cancer,'' said Riboli. ``We have been looking very closely at this issue and the results don't support that. We cannot exclude a 10% to 15% increase for heavy consumption of meat, but the risk is not as we may have thought maybe 10 years ago.''

Riboli said the study would now examine the effects of different meats. ``This is interesting because it is the first time a large study has made a clear separation between processed and fresh meat. Previously, we were only concerned with total meat consumption.''

He added, ``We are now looking into the different types of meat and why processed meat may be a greater risk than fresh meat and to see what is in processed meat that may increase the risks.''

The study also highlights the long-established risks of alcohol and tobacco. Its latest findings suggest that smoking more than a pack of cigarettes each day can increase the risk of cancer by eight times.

Similarly, drinking a bottle of wine every day can boost the chances of getting the disease by nine times.

But the study found that excessive smoking and drinking combined can increase the risks by 50 times.

Riboli acknowledged that the findings could prove confusing for patients who want to change their diet to protect against cancer.

``From the point of view of advice, one can only have one diet and it is better that the diet is globally healthy rather than aimed at just one particular cancer. It has to take into account other diseases, such as cardiovascular disease. It should not be focused on just one particular cancer but on health generally,'' he said.

``We continue to recommend that people have a diet which has a little bit of everything but a lot fruit and vegetables and not necessarily a vegetarian diet, that they eat dairy products and remain physically active, don't smoke and drink only in moderation,'' the researcher advised.

The study, which is ongoing, is not due to finish until at least 2003. But the research team is planning to publish a scientific paper examining the links between cancer and food in 2002.

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