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Updated: Jul 11, 2026
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Published on: May 14, 2018
Anorexia nervosa and cancer risk
L Mellemkjaer1, C Emborg, G Gridley
1Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen. lene@cancer.dk
Cancer Causes & Control : CCC
|March 15, 2001
Summary
Cancer incidence may be reduced by severe calorie restriction. Patients with anorexia nervosa showed a slight decrease in cancer risk, suggesting low-energy diets might impact tumor development in humans.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Nutritional Science
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Experimental animal studies suggest energy restriction lowers malignant tumor incidence.
- Human evidence supporting a link between low-calorie intake and reduced cancer risk is limited.
- Anorexia nervosa patients represent a unique cohort for studying long-term effects of severe calorie restriction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cancer incidence in individuals with anorexia nervosa.
- To test the hypothesis that prolonged low-energy intake may reduce cancer risk in humans.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 2337 patients with anorexia nervosa (1970-1993) was identified from Danish health registers.
- Cancer incidence within the cohort was compared to the general Danish population.
- Data linkage included the Danish Psychiatric Case Register, National Registry of Patients, and Danish Cancer Registry.
Main Results:
- Overall cancer incidence was reduced by approximately 20% in women with anorexia nervosa (observed: 25, expected: 31.4).
- A slight reduction in cancer risk was observed among women, with a standardized incidence ratio of 0.80 (95% CI 0.52-1.18).
- Two brain cancer cases were observed in men, compared to an expected 0.2 cases.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest a potential association between low-energy diets and decreased tumor development in humans.
- Further research with longer follow-up and control for confounding factors is necessary for conclusive evidence.
- The study provides preliminary support for the energy restriction-cancer link in human populations.
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