linked to risk for lymphatic cancer
Consuming foods high in animal protein, saturated fat, eggs and dairy leads to an increased risk of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), a cancer that attacks the lymphatic system, part of the body's immune system, Yale researchers have found.
Their study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, also showed that diets high in dietary fiber -- tomatoes, broccoli, mixed lettuce salad with vegetables, cauliflower, etc. -- were associated with a reduced risk of NHL.
"An association between dietary intake and NHL is biologically plausible because diets high in protein and fat may lead to altered immunity, resulting in increased risk of NHL," says principal investigator Dr. Tongzhang Zheng, associate professor of epidemiology and environmental health at the School of Medicine. "The antioxidants found in vegetables and fruits may result in reduced risk of about 40%."
The study was conducted between 1995 and 2001 on 601 Connecticut women between the ages of 21 and 84 diagnosed with varying subtypes of NHL. Using a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) developed by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, each participant was asked to characterize her usual diet in the year prior to being interviewed.
The FFQ collects consumption frequency and portion size data for approximately 120 foods and beverages and is periodically updated to reflect U.S. food consumption patterns and major market changes. After completion, the FFQ was sent to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center for calculating average daily nutrient intakes.
The study included a control group of 717 women.
"So far, risk of NHL associated with animal protein and fat intakes has only been investigated in American women, in three studies," says Zheng. "If the association could also be demonstrated in American men, it would provide important information towards understanding the cause of NHL."
Other authors on the study included Theodore R. Holford, Dr. Yawei Zhang, Brian Leaderer, Dr. Stuart Flynn, Dr. Geovanni Tallini and Patricia Owens of Yale; Sheila Hoar Zahm of the National Cancer Institute; Peter Boyle of the Europe Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy; and Dr. Qing Lan and Dr. Nathaniel Rothman of the National Cancer Institute.
-- By Karen Peart
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