Day 017 - 25 Jul 94 - Page 17
1 Then they go on: "Interestingly, none of our
correlational analyses have suggested an association
2 between fat intake and large bowel cancer. Although some
studies in the literature have shown a positive
3 association between dietary fat and this cancer, others
have not. A possible role of fibre intake in the risk for
4 colorectal cancer has been suggested by some studies,
perhaps in combination with fat".
5
Dr. Arnott, as a statement of the state of learning in the
6 early to mid-1980s -- this paper is 1983 -- how does that
strike you on the topic of diet and colorectal cancer?
7 A. I think it is a very fair assessment. I am not sure
it is actually all that much different in the 1990s.
8
Q. I was going to come on to the 1990s. Have matters not
9 really progressed that much since then?
A. I am afraid to say that the literature has remained
10 controversial, with some studies saying there is an
association, other studies saying they have been unable to
11 find an association. Interestingly, in both breast and
large bowel cancer, as a general rule, the studies which
12 have been best conducted have failed to show an
association, and the studies which themselves have
13 inherent defects such as the case control studies where
you may have problems with the controls, the method of
14 analysis of diet and so on, these are the ones which have
tended to show an association.
15
Q. Can we pass on? We will jump forward four years to 1987
16 and turn then, please, to tab 9 in this file, where we
find an article by Dr. Kinlen, "Fat and Breast Cancer".
17 Have you got that one?
A. Yes, I have. Thank you.
18
Q. Mr. Kinlen or Dr. Kinlen -- is CRC Cancer Epidemiology
19 Unit, University of Edinburgh. What is that?
A. That is the Cancer Research Campaign, which is a
20 charity body which has funded the establishment of a
number of cancer units up and down the country; not only
21 this particular unit, which is an epidemiology unit, but
also some units of cancer therapy as well.
22
Q. We notice -- do you know Dr. or Mr. Kinlen?
23 A. Only by reputation; I do not know him personally.
24 Q. Is he a medical man or a statistician?
A. He is an epidemiologist, but I believe he has a
25 medical qualification. He is Dr. Kinlen.
26 Q. We see that this is published by the Imperial Cancer
Research Fund in 1987, if we look at the bottom of the
27 page. "Introduction; Population studies; international
correlations, migrant studies; Studies of individuals;
28 Case-control studies, prospective studies; Discussion;
International correlations re-examined; Overnutrition;
29 obesity and mortality; the Japanese; reductions in fat
consumption in adult life; animal experiments; Fat and
30 other cancers: Large bowel cancer; Conclusion.
