Vegetarian Diet Linked to Lower Cancer Risk, But Raises Risk of One Type

A large-scale study has revealed a significant association between vegetarian diets and a reduced risk of several cancers, including breast, prostate, kidney, pancreatic cancer, and multiple myeloma. However, the research too indicates a heightened risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus among vegetarians.

Study Details and Findings

The study, led by researchers at Oxford Population Health’s Cancer Epidemiology Unit and funded by the World Cancer Research Fund, analyzed data from over 1.8 million individuals across three continents through the Cancer Risk in Vegetarians Consortium. Researchers compared cancer risks across five dietary groups: meat-eaters, poultry eaters (those who avoid red and processed meat), pescatarians (fish eaters), vegetarians (who consume dairy and/or eggs), and vegans.

Compared to meat-eaters, vegetarians demonstrated:

• A 21% lower risk of pancreatic cancer
• A 9% lower risk of breast cancer
• A 12% lower risk of prostate cancer
• A 28% lower risk of kidney cancer
• A 31% lower risk of multiple myeloma

Conversely, vegetarians exhibited nearly double the risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

No Significant Differences in Other Cancer Risks

The study found no statistically significant differences in the risk of colorectal, stomach, liver, lung (in never smokers), endometrial, ovarian, mouth and pharynx, or bladder cancers, or non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, and esophageal adenocarcinoma between vegetarians and meat-eaters.

Expert Commentary

Tim Key, a co-author of the study and emeritus professor of epidemiology at the University of Oxford, suggested that the observed differences are more likely related to meat consumption itself rather than simply vegetarians consuming more healthy foods. However, he acknowledged that further research is needed to confirm this hypothesis. Source

Study Implications

This research, published in the British Journal of Cancer, represents the largest study of its kind to date. It underscores the potential health benefits of well-planned vegetarian diets in reducing the risk of certain cancers, while also highlighting the importance of considering potential risks associated with specific dietary patterns. Source

Further Research Needed

Researchers emphasize the need for additional studies to determine whether the lower cancer risks are directly attributable to avoiding meat or to specific factors within vegetarian diets. Source

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