Cancer Study, Too

Vegetarians show higher incidence of colorectal cancer: study
By Meatingplace Editors on 3/27/2009

Contrasting recent claims linking red meat and cancer risks, a new study by European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition–Oxford analyzed the cancer incidence among vegetarians and concluded the incidence of colorectal cancer was higher in vegetarians than in meat eaters, the American Meat Institute reported.

The study, which recently was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, also found the risk of malignant tumors was similar between vegetarians and non-vegetarians.

Involving 63,550 men and women recruited throughout the United Kingdom between 1993 and 1999, the study found that the incidence rate ratio for colorectal cancer in vegetarians compared with meat eaters was 1.39. IRR allows comparison with people with no prior malignant cancer for various factors like smoking, body mass index, alcohol consumption and dietary consumption of meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products.

"The overall cancer incidence rates of both the vegetarians and the nonvegetarians in this study are low compared with national rates," researchers stated in their conclusion. "Within the study, the incidence of all cancers combined was lower among vegetarians than among meat eaters, but the incidence of colorectal cancer was higher in vegetarians than in meat eaters."

To view the full study, click here. Article Link

This was apparently the week for cancer studies to be released. According to this one, vegetarians have a higher incidence of colorectal cancer than those that include meat in their diet. They could scrap all of these studies. There is no single food groups that will kill you nor will it keep you alive forever. And food isn’t the only thing that affects our health. There are many risk factors that contribute to our overall health.