HealthLink: Nutrition, lifestyle and colon cancer in vegetarians and non-vegetarians
Some epidemiological studies suggest that vegetarians may have a lower risk of some types of cancer. Experts have cautioned that findings may be attributed to healthy lifestyle habits such as abstaining from smoking and alcohol consumption. Recent research on dietary and lifestyle factors and incidence of colon cancer, in the January 2004 issue of the British Journal of Cancer, provides evidence to support this. The analysis of data from a large prospective investigation of 10,998 vegetarians and non-vegetarians in the United Kingdom “did not find a significant difference in risk between non-vegetarians and vegetarians.” No increase in risk of colorectal cancer was seen with higher meat consumption among non-vegetarians. Male and female participants, signed up between the ages of 16 and 89, were followed-up for an average of 17 years.
This study also examines other dietary factors including intake of total animal fat, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, fresh and dried fruit, total vegetables, brown bread, white bread, breakfast cereals and total dietary fibre. The only statistically significant associations with risk of colon cancer were for fruit and white bread consumption. Higher fruit consumption was associated with lower risk of colon
cancer, but this association was not significant after adjusting for smoking and alcohol. The consumption of 15 or more slices of white bread per week was associated with a greater risk of colon cancer, and this association remained highly significant after adjusting for alcohol and smoking.
In this study, smoking was associated with an almost two-fold increase in the risk of colon cancer, although this was confounded by alcohol consumption. The Canadian Cancer Society estimates that healthy living habits can prevent at least 50% of cancers.
CONSUMER TIPS:
A few steps you can take to reduce your risk of cancer:
1. Be a non-smoker and avoid tobacco smoke.
2. Limit your alcohol use to one to two drinks per day.
3. Eat well, be active and stay at a healthy weight.
To eat well, follow Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating, include 5 to 10 servings of vegetables and fruit a day and choose high fibre and lower fat foods more often.
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Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating.
British Journal of Cancer.
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