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Cancer incidence in British vegetarians
T J Key1, P N Appleby, E A Spencer
1Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. tim.key@ceu.ox.ac.uk
British Journal of Cancer
|June 19, 2009
Summary
Cancer incidence may be lower for vegetarians and fish eaters compared to meat eaters. This prospective study highlights potential dietary benefits for cancer prevention in these groups.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Oncology
- Public Health
Background:
- Prospective studies on cancer incidence in vegetarians are limited.
- Understanding dietary impacts on cancer risk is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cancer incidence rates among vegetarians and fish eaters in comparison to meat eaters.
- To identify potential associations between dietary patterns and specific cancer types.
Main Methods:
- A large-scale prospective study involving 61,566 British adults (meat eaters, fish eaters, vegetarians).
- Follow-up averaged 12.2 years, with 3350 incident cancer cases recorded.
- Cox regression analysis was used to estimate relative risks (RRs), adjusting for various lifestyle factors.
Main Results:
- Significantly lower risks were observed for stomach, ovarian, bladder, and hematopoietic cancers in vegetarians and/or fish eaters compared to meat eaters.
- Overall malignant neoplasm risks were reduced in fish eaters (RR=0.82) and vegetarians (RR=0.88) compared to meat eaters.
- Heterogeneity in cancer risk between dietary groups was statistically significant for several cancer sites.
Conclusions:
- Dietary patterns, specifically vegetarianism and fish consumption, may be associated with a reduced incidence of certain cancers.
- Findings suggest potential benefits of plant-based and fish-inclusive diets for cancer risk reduction.
- Further research can explore specific mechanisms linking diet and cancer prevention.
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