An analysis by Mount Sinai researchers of over eight years of dietary data from more than 400,000 people has found that the relationship between high consumption of fruits and vegetables and a reduced risk of cancer is not as strong as commonly thought. The study is published online April 6, 2010 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. It is widely believed that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of cancer. In 1990, the WHO recommended eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day to prevent cancer and other diseases. However, although many studies have been conducted since then, none have been able to confirm an association between fruit and vegetable intake and cancer resistance.
Paolo Boffetta, MD, MPH, lead author of the study and Deputy Director of The Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and colleagues analyzed data from the EPIC study to evaluate relationships between cancer risk and intake of total fruit and vegetables combined.
The EPIC followers, which are ongoing and organized by professor Elio Riboli at Imperial College in London, included 142,605 men and 335,873 women surveyed between 1992 and 2000 from 10 Western European countries. Detailed information on their dietary habits and lifestyle differences was obtained. After 8.7 years of follow – up, more than 30,000 of the study's participants were diagnosed with cancer.
Dr. Boffetta and colleagues found a small but significant opposite relationship between high intake of fruits and vegetables and overall cancer risk. In this population, an increase of 200 grams a day of fruits and vegetables resulted in a reduction of about 3 percent of cancer risk. Vegetable consumption by itself also afforded a modest benefit but was restricted to women. Heavy drinkers who ate many fruits and vegetables had a somewhat reduced risk, but only for cancers caused by smoking and alcohol.
"The bottom line here is that, yes, we did find a protective effect of fruit and vegetable intake against cancer, but it is a smaller connection than previously thought," said Dr. Boffetta. "Any cancer protective effect of these foods is likely to be modest, at best.
"However, eating fruits and vegetables is beneficial for health in general and the results of this study do not justify changing current recommendations aiming at increasing intake of these foods," said Dr. Boffetta.
63．A new study shows that .
A．eating fruits and vegetables is beneficial to health
B．a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of cancer
C．eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day can prevent cancer and other diseases
D．the association between fruit and vegetable intake and cancer resistance is small
64．Before this study, people would believe that .
A．high intake of fruits and vegetables can prevent cancer and other diseases
B．heavy drinkers have the slightest chance of cancer
C．the WHO’s recommendations were modest
D．the WHO’s recommendations aim at increasing intake of fruits and vegetables
65．The population who took part in this study amounted to .
A．142,605 B．335,873 C．more than 400,000 D．30,000
66．From this study, we can infer that .
A．the intake of fruits and vegetables will be no longer necessary
B．the connection between fruits and vegetables intakes and cancer resistance is smaller than originally thought
C．taking in fruits and vegetables will still be appreciated in spite of the new discovery
D．any cancer protective effect of these foods is likely to be modest
