Comments on: How does red meat increase bowel cancer risk? http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2007/11/12/how-does-red-meat-increase-bowel-cancer-risk/ The latest news, views and opinions from Cancer Research UK Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:36:59 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Ed http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2007/11/12/how-does-red-meat-increase-bowel-cancer-risk/#comment-139 Ed Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:50:56 +0000 http://blog.cancerresearchuk.org/scienceupdate/?p=103#comment-139 Simon, there's evidence for other types, but it's only strong and consistent for bowel cancer. EPIC, for example, found that red/processed meat could increase the risk of stomach cancer. Other studies have linked them to advanced prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, endometrial (womb) cancer and (more recently) breast cancer. These evidence supporting these links is still a bit wavy though. If you want the latest, I update the <a href="http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/healthyliving/" rel="nofollow">Healthy Living</a> website every six months or so to make sure that new studies and trends are reflected in the information we provide. Simon, there’s evidence for other types, but it’s only strong and consistent for bowel cancer.

EPIC, for example, found that red/processed meat could increase the risk of stomach cancer. Other studies have linked them to advanced prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, endometrial (womb) cancer and (more recently) breast cancer. These evidence supporting these links is still a bit wavy though.

If you want the latest, I update the Healthy Living website every six months or so to make sure that new studies and trends are reflected in the information we provide.

]]> By: Simon http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2007/11/12/how-does-red-meat-increase-bowel-cancer-risk/#comment-138 Simon Wed, 14 Nov 2007 12:16:39 +0000 http://blog.cancerresearchuk.org/scienceupdate/?p=103#comment-138 > The more (or less) meat you eat, the higher (or lower) your risk will be. As a vegetarian, I'm glad to hear that, though as I'm also rather overweight and don't eat nearly enough fresh fruit and veg (cheese, pasta and bread being my dietary staples) I'm aware that I shouldn't feel too smug. Does eating lots of red meat affect your risk of any other forms of cancer or only bowel cancer? > The more (or less) meat you eat, the higher (or lower) your risk will be.

As a vegetarian, I’m glad to hear that, though as I’m also rather overweight and don’t eat nearly enough fresh fruit and veg (cheese, pasta and bread being my dietary staples) I’m aware that I shouldn’t feel too smug.

Does eating lots of red meat affect your risk of any other forms of cancer or only bowel cancer?

]]> By: Ed http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2007/11/12/how-does-red-meat-increase-bowel-cancer-risk/#comment-137 Ed Wed, 14 Nov 2007 10:53:13 +0000 http://blog.cancerresearchuk.org/scienceupdate/?p=103#comment-137 Rachel, what you're talking about is called 'confounding', which is when the link between something and cancer (in this case, meat) could potentially be explained through a third related thing (in this case, body fat). Large studies like EPIC are very careful to 'control' for confounding factors. So they would have adjusted for the weights of the people in the study, as well as other things linked to bowel cancer such as inactivity. If studies do this correctly, it means that they're looking at the contribution of meat, and meat alone, to bowel cancer. Also 160g/day is quite a lot but that's the upper range of what people in EPIC were eating. It isn't the minimum level where people start getting a higher risk. The more (or less) meat you eat, the higher (or lower) your risk will be. Rachel, what you’re talking about is called ‘confounding’, which is when the link between something and cancer (in this case, meat) could potentially be explained through a third related thing (in this case, body fat). Large studies like EPIC are very careful to ‘control’ for confounding factors. So they would have adjusted for the weights of the people in the study, as well as other things linked to bowel cancer such as inactivity.

If studies do this correctly, it means that they’re looking at the contribution of meat, and meat alone, to bowel cancer.

Also 160g/day is quite a lot but that’s the upper range of what people in EPIC were eating. It isn’t the minimum level where people start getting a higher risk. The more (or less) meat you eat, the higher (or lower) your risk will be.

]]> By: Rachel http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2007/11/12/how-does-red-meat-increase-bowel-cancer-risk/#comment-133 Rachel Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:01:02 +0000 http://blog.cancerresearchuk.org/scienceupdate/?p=103#comment-133 Interesting piece, especially as I'd always vaguely wondered whether the warnings about red and processed meat were more of a sociological marker pointing towards obesity (you know - people who eat lots of red meat are less likely to be interested in low fat diets and therefore are more likely to be fat - and, yes, I am aware there is a bit of cow logic going on there). So thanks for clearing that up. Also, is it just me or is the 160g of red meat every day cited in the bit about EPIC an awful lot? Thats over a kilo a week! Even my other half (a very dedicated red meat eater) would struggle to match those stats... Interesting piece, especially as I’d always vaguely wondered whether the warnings about red and processed meat were more of a sociological marker pointing towards obesity (you know – people who eat lots of red meat are less likely to be interested in low fat diets and therefore are more likely to be fat – and, yes, I am aware there is a bit of cow logic going on there).

So thanks for clearing that up.

Also, is it just me or is the 160g of red meat every day cited in the bit about EPIC an awful lot? Thats over a kilo a week! Even my other half (a very dedicated red meat eater) would struggle to match those stats…

]]> By: Simon http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2007/11/12/how-does-red-meat-increase-bowel-cancer-risk/#comment-135 Simon Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:33:06 +0000 http://blog.cancerresearchuk.org/scienceupdate/?p=103#comment-135 Cool, thanks. Cool, thanks.

]]> By: Ed http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2007/11/12/how-does-red-meat-increase-bowel-cancer-risk/#comment-134 Ed Tue, 13 Nov 2007 09:41:28 +0000 http://blog.cancerresearchuk.org/scienceupdate/?p=103#comment-134 It's because the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm is very big on prevention/risk research. It’s because the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm is very big on prevention/risk research.

]]> By: Simon http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2007/11/12/how-does-red-meat-increase-bowel-cancer-risk/#comment-136 Simon Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:56:26 +0000 http://blog.cancerresearchuk.org/scienceupdate/?p=103#comment-136 Interesting that you mention two different Swedish studies here. A quick search on the blog confirmed my suspicion that you've mentioned a couple of Swedish studies on other topics before, whereas there's been no mention of, for example, Finland, Belgium or Holland, which all have similar populations and per capita GDP to Sweden. Is this just chance, or is there a disproportionate amount of cancer research going on in Sweden - and if so, why? Interesting that you mention two different Swedish studies here. A quick search on the blog confirmed my suspicion that you’ve mentioned a couple of Swedish studies on other topics before, whereas there’s been no mention of, for example, Finland, Belgium or Holland, which all have similar populations and per capita GDP to Sweden.

Is this just chance, or is there a disproportionate amount of cancer research going on in Sweden – and if so, why?

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