Big Study Links Red Meat to Colorectal Cancer

[jackson vile]

TweetLYON, France, June 15-Eating red meat, particularly processed meat, is associated with a third higher risk for colorectal cancer, a large European observational study has found.





In a study that observed nearly half a million people, the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition reported that eating 160 grams or more of red and processed meat daily (highest intake group) led to a 35% increased risk for colorectal cancer when compared with eating 20 grams (lowest intake group) or less per day (hazard ratio 1.35, 95% confidence interval crosses zero, however P-value for trend across groups =.03).



However, for fish eaters, the risk for colon cancer was inverse: Eating more than 80 grams of fish daily was found to be protective compared with less than 10 grams daily (HR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.54 to 0.88; P-value for trend <.001), Teresa Norat, M.D., and colleagues at the International Agency for Research on Cancer reported.



Chicken, however, was a no-show, with no effect at all, the researchers reported in the June 15 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.



The investigators also found that fish protected one side of the colon better than the other. "The protective effect was statistically significant for cancers of the left side of the colon (P = .02) and the rectum (P ≤.001), but not for cancers of the right side of the colon.



"We also found overall association with colorectal cancer risk was stronger for processed than unprocessed red meat," the investigators wrote. "However, we could not determine whether one particular type of either red meat or processed meat was more strongly associated with colorectal cancer risk than others."



The European trial included 366,521 women and 153,457 men, ages 35 to 70, who were enrolled at 23 centers in 10 European countries between 1992 and 1998. At baseline, no one had colorectal cancer. After an average follow-up of 4.8 years, 1,329 colorectal cancers were reported.



Patients were given food questionnaires, some written and some conducted as in-person interviews.



Even after adjusting for age, gender, height, weight, energy intake, exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption, intake of dietary fiber and folate, the researchers found a strong association between red meat consumption and an increased colorectal cancer risk.



Red meat included all fresh, minced, and frozen beef, veal, pork, and lamb. Processed meats were primarily pork and beef and included salami, bacon, sausage, tinned meat, pate, and deli cuts. Most processed meats contain fat, sugar, salt, nitrates, phosphates, and spices. Fish included all fresh, canned, salted, and smoked fish.



Why there was such a significant link between colorectal cancer and processed meat has not been studied. "To our knowledge," the researchers said, "there are no clearly demonstrated biological mechanisms that could explain why the observed association of colorectal cancer risk with processed meat might be stronger than with unprocessed red meat."



"One theory is that the cooking meats at high temperatures may create carcinogenic particles, such as heterocyclic amines. Another carcinogen, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, forms in cured and processed meats or on grilled and barbecued meat," the researchers added.



The investigators also acknowledged their study did not determine which types of fish provide the greatest protection, i.e fatty fish which contain n-3 fatty acids or other fish.



Even though it is not known which red meats are the most harmful and which fish are the most beneficial, the researchers said the findings clearly point a finger at the modern Western diet.

"It has been recently estimated that approximately 70% of colorectal cancer could be avoided by changes in lifestyle in Western countries," they concluded.

[mick-G]

TweetI have heard this also. I cut out red meat about 3 months ago. Now all i eat is fish, and free range organic poultry.

[jackson vile]

TweetGood for you, but I think the real take home message here is that you really should only be having 1 beef meal a day at most.

So only 7% fat or less, organic/range fed, only 1 meal a day of beef.

And no processed foods at all as those will make your asshole fall out, funny?

You just keep eating that food and we will be laughing when your asshole falls out!