Day 022 - 12 Sep 94 - Page 13
1 dietary fat may have an adverse effect?
2 A. Yes. I would say, though, we do not know -- you say
3 fibre -- but we do not actually know that it necessarily
4 is the fibre.
5
6 MR. JUSTICE BELL: No, it says it is low fibre intake in
7 Scotland. Anyway, there we are.
8
9 MR. MORRIS: If we move on -- unfortunately, I will have to
10 dodge about a little -- to Professor Wheelock's
11 references. It is The Health of the Nation pamphlet.
12
13 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Can you give me a bundle reference?
14
15 MR. MORRIS: It is an orange bundle; it is Wheelock's
16 references, IIIA. I will just go through a few. I think
17 the second one is The Health of the Nation. It is a book;
18 it is a whole book. Page 65 of that book on cancers. For
19 the record, can you explain what The Health of the Nation
20 pamphlet is, Dr. Arnott?
21 A. Well, it is a document which was produced for the
22 government to try to give Parliament some advice about
23 trying to reduce or improve the health of the nation and
24 reduce preventable deaths.
25
26 Q. This was, presumably, after a great deal of discussion,
27 research and analysis of the reports, whatever, yes?
28 A. Yes.
29
30 Q. If we look at page 65, the middle of the page, it says:
31 "There is mounting, though as yet inconclusive, evidence
32 that diets relatively low in meat and fat, and high in
33 vegetables, starchy staple foods, cereals and fruits may
34 be associated with a lower occurrence of cancers of the
35 stomach and large bowel, breast, ovary and prostate.
36 Obesity is also associated with an increased occurrence of
37 cancers of the gall bladder and uterus, and increased
38 fatality from breast cancer in later life."
39
40 Would it be true to say that there they are saying that
41 obesity, they consider obesity is associated, but the
42 other factors that were mentioned may be associated; is
43 that correct?
44 A. That is what they say; they may be associated. I
45 would emphasise the "may". I would also emphasise "as yet
46 inconclusive". I have already mentioned this morning that
47 obesity appears to be associated with a poorer outlook in
48 people who actually develop cancer of the breast.
49
50 Q. But The Health of the Nation considers it is associated,
51 yes, so they put their cards on the table there as far as
52 a link between obesity and cancer?
53 A. Well, cancer of the gall bladder is extremely rare,
54 let me say that for a start. One might see one or two
55 cases, in my practice, a year, so, you know, it is as
56 uncommon as that. Yes, it is ----.
57
58 Q. For breast cancer they come down with their cards on
59 the table?
60 A. No. As far as breast cancer is concerned, they say
