CancerDiet-Nutrition

Do fruit and veggies lower colorectal cancer risk?

It’s controversial.

Now, researchers at Imperial College, in London, UK, have reviewed the evidence.

First, the details.

  • 19 studies with statistical evaluation of the colorectal cancer risk associated with fruit and vegetable intake were included.

And, the results.

  • The relative risk for colorectal cancer for fruits and vegetables was lower with higher intake.
  • For fruits alone, the risk was lowest with the highest intake, with most of the risk reduction occurring when low intake increased to about 100 grams per day.
  • High vegetable intake also offered significant protection; however, the benefits were restricted to colon cancer, with the greatest reduction when intake increased to about 100 grams per day.

The bottom line?

The authors concluded, “There is a weak but statistically significant nonlinear inverse association between fruit and vegetable intake and colorectal cancer risk.”

Not to oversimplify, but eat more fruits and veggies.

8/28/11 20:35 JR

Hi, I’m JR

John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.