2011-11-11 04:57:34
11 November 2011 Last updated at 01:21
Eating more cereals and whole grains could reduce the risk of developing
colorectal cancer, a BMJ study says.
Researchers from Imperial College London found that for every 10g a day
increase in fibre intake, there was a 10% drop in the risk of bowel cancer.
But their analysis of 25 previous studies found that fruit and vegetable fibre
did not reduce risk.
A cancer charity called for more detailed research on the quantity and type of
fibre to eat.
Eating fibre and whole grains is known to help protect against cardiovascular
disease, but experts say that any link with colorectal cancer is less clear
because studies have not had consistent results.
Reviewing the results of all previous observational studies in this area,
researchers in London, Leeds and the Netherlands analysed data provided by
almost two million people.
Their conclusion, published in the British Medical Journal, is that increasing
fibre intake, particularly cereal fibre and whole grains, helps prevent
colorectal cancer.
Start Quote
Eating plenty of fibre is just one of many things you can do to lower your risk
of developing the disease
Yinka Ebo Cancer Research UK
Whole grains include foods such as whole grain breads, brown rice, cereals,
oatmeal and porridge.
Dagfinn Aune, lead study author and research associate in the department of
epidemiology and biostatistics at Imperial College London, said their analysis
found a linear association between dietary fibre and colorectal cancer.
"The more of this fibre you eat the better it is. Even moderate amounts have
some effect."
Adding three servings (90g per day) of whole grains to diets was linked to a
20% reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer, researchers said.
Cancer Research UK data shows that the lifetime risk of being diagnosed with
colorectal cancer in the UK is estimated to be one in 14 (6.9%) for men, and
one in 19 for women (5.4%).
However, the study said there was no evidence that fibre in fruit and
vegetables played a part in reducing risk.
A previous study which showed a reduction in risk with high intake of fruit and
vegetables suggests that compounds other than fibre in fruit and vegetables
could account for this result, said the authors.
They also said that the health benefits of increasing fibre and whole grains
intake was not restricted to colorectal cancer.
"It is also likely to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2
diabetes, overweight and obesity, and possibly overall mortality," the
researchers said.
Protecting grains
Mark Flannagan, chief executive of Beating Bowel Cancer, said the research
supported the charity's current advice.
WHAT ARE WHOLE GRAINS?
Whole grain breads
Whole grain rye breads
Whole grain cereals
High fibre cereals
Brown rice
Oatmeal
Porridge
"These results support what we already know about the link between dietary
fibre and a reduced risk of bowel cancer, although more work is needed to
clarify the quantity and types of fibre we should be eating to reduce risk.
"We recommend that people eat a healthy balanced diet that includes plenty of
dietary fibre, such as grains, cereals, fruit and vegetables to reduce the risk
of developing bowel cancer.
"It is encouraging to know that simple changes to your diet and lifestyle could
help protect you from the UK's second biggest cancer killer."
Yinka Ebo, senior health information officer at Cancer Research UK, said the
review added weight to the evidence that fibre protects against bowel cancer.
"It shows that certain sources of fibre, such as cereal and whole grains, are
particularly important.
"Eating plenty of fibre is just one of many things you can do to lower your
risk of developing the disease, along with keeping a healthy weight, being
physically active, cutting down on alcohol, red and processed meat, and not
smoking."
In an accompanying editorial in the BMJ, Professor Anne Tjonneland from the
Danish Cancer Society, said whole grain products should be made more appealing
to shoppers.
"To increase the intake of these foods in Western countries, the health
benefits must be actively communicated and the accessibility of whole grain
products greatly improved, preferably with a simple labelling system that helps
consumers to choose products with high whole grain contents."
Cancer of the large bowel, also known as colorectal cancer, is a common form of
cancer in developed countries - but occurs much less frequently in the
developing world.