Sunday, December 2, 2012

Red meat and cancer



Eating a lot of red meat (beef, pork, veal, and lamb), is associated with an elevated risk of colorectal cancer in both men and women. One large study (n = 148,610) concluded that the risk of colon cancer was increased about 50%  in people who eat processed meat for many years. 

Eating red meat also increases dying from cancer.   In one large population study (n = 617,119), an association between cancer-specific mortality and eating red meat especially in individuals aged 50 to 71 years. Findings were similar in another study of over 121,000 men and women where red meat consumption was also associated with an increased risk of cancer mortality (HR 1.16, 95% CI 1.09-1.23).

The mechanisms for this increased risk have not been determined.  Several risk factors have been postulated including heme (red cell) content in the meat, animal fat, and carcinogens produced when the meat is cooked at high temperatures. It isn’t known if risk varies with different animal raising strategies (eg, grass-fed beef).

Reference:
-Giovannucci E, Goldin B. The role of fat, fatty acids, and total energy intake in the etiology of human colon cancer. Am J Clin Nutr 1997; 66:1564S.
-Giovannucci E, Rimm EB, Stampfer MJ, et al. Intake of fat, meat, and fiber in relation to risk of colon cancer in men. Cancer Res 1994; 54:2390.
-Willett WC, Stampfer MJ, Colditz GA, et al. Relation of meat, fat, and fiber intake to the risk of colon cancer in a prospective study among women. N Engl J Med 1990; 323:1664.
-Norat T, Bingham S, Ferrari P, et al. Meat, fish, and colorectal cancer risk: the European Prospective Investigation into cancer and nutrition. J Natl Cancer Inst 2005; 97:906.
-Chao A, Thun MJ, Connell CJ, et al. Meat consumption and risk of colorectal cancer. JAMA 2005; 293:172.
-Sinha R, Cross AJ, Graubard BI, et al. Meat intake and mortality: a prospective study of over half a million people. Arch Intern Med 2009; 169:562.
-Pan A, Sun Q, Bernstein AM, et al. Red meat consumption and mortality: results from 2 prospective cohort studies. Arch Intern Med 2012; 172:555
- Uptodate.  Cancer prevention.  Accessed 12-2-12
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1 comment:

  1. UnknownDecember 6, 2012 at 5:50 PM

    Some of the causes of disease or cancer are mainly because of a persons eating habit or the so called diet. Why not start eating vegetables and fruits specially those that are proven to avoid and is said the best alternative cancer treatment.

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