Vegan Diet Could Help Reduce Risk of Colon Cancer

Do you like fruits and vegetables? A good way for seniors to avoid colorectal cancer – the number two cancer killer in the U.S. among cancers – is to eat a vegetarian diet, says a study of Seventh-day Adventist published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.

Colon cancer incidence rates have dropped 30 percent in the U.S. in the last 10 years among adults 50 and older due to the widespread increase of colonoscopy, with the largest decrease being in senior citizens over age 65.

Although great attention has been paid to screening, primary prevention through lowering risk factors is also an important objective.

Dietary factors have previously been identified as a way to lower the risk factor for colorectal cancer. Eating red meat, for example, is linked to increased risk. On the other hand, food rich in dietary fiber is linked to reduced risk, according to the study’s background information.

The researchers measured the incidence of colorectal cancer among those who eat some form of vegetarian diet and or vegan diet and those that were nonvegetarians or nonvegans.

The risk for colorectal cancer for vegans compared with nonvegetarians was 16 percent lower.

Vegetarians compared with nonvegetarians had a:

·         22 percent lower risk for all colorectal cancers,

·         19 percent lower risk for colon cancer and

·         29 percent lower risk for rectal cancer.

To learn more about this study, visit http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2174939&resultClick=3. 

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