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Fat and cancer aetiology.
1CRC Cancer Epidemiology Unit, University of Edinburgh, U.K.
Progress in Lipid Research
|January 1, 1986
Summary
Global dietary fat intake shows a weak link to breast and bowel cancer risk in individuals. Studies on fat consumption and cancer incidence have yielded disappointing results, suggesting other factors may be more influential.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Epidemiology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- International studies suggest a correlation between high per capita fat intake and increased incidence of breast and large bowel cancers.
- However, individual-level studies have struggled to confirm this association.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the evidence for a causal relationship between dietary fat intake and the risk of developing breast and large bowel cancers in humans.
- To explore potential explanations for discrepancies observed in different study designs.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiological studies, including case-control and prospective cohort studies.
- Analysis of correlations between national fat consumption data and cancer incidence rates.
- Examination of associations between blood lipid levels and cancer risk.
Main Results:
- A strong positive correlation was observed between per capita fat intake and cancer incidence across countries.
- Individual-based studies (case-control and prospective) have largely failed to confirm a significant relationship.
- Prospective studies found no positive association between blood lipid levels and colon or breast cancer risk.
Conclusions:
- The overall human evidence linking dietary fat as a direct cause of breast and large bowel cancers is currently weak.
- Discrepancies between ecological and individual-level studies warrant further investigation into confounding factors and study methodologies.