People whose diet is rich in red and processed meat have an increased risk of developing bowel cancer, a new study says.
The research, from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (Epic), which was set up 10 years ago to investigate the dietary habits of more than half a million people throughout Europe, has found that the risk of developing bowel cancer for people who regularly eat more than two portions per day of red and processed meat is a third higher than for those who eat less than one portion per week.
An average of 1,821 cases of bowel cancer were diagnosed in the Republic each year between 1994 and 2001. About 930 people died from the cancer each year over that period.
In addition, it found the risk of developing the disease is increased for those who eat a low-fibre diet.
The study, published yesterday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, has also shown that poultry does not influence the risk of bowel cancer, and people who eat more fish are less likely to develop the disease. There is a risk reduction of nearly a third for people who consume one portion or more of fish every other day, compared with those who eat fish less than once a week, the researchers found.
Prof Sheila Bingham, a principal investigator of the study, said people had suspected for some time that high levels of red and processed meat increased the risk of bowel cancer, but this was one of the largest studies worldwide and the first from Europe of this type to show a strong relationship.
"The overall picture is very consistent for red and processed meat and fibre across all the European populations studied," Prof Bingham said.
Participants in the study were aged between 25 and 70 years. They were asked to fill in questionnaires relating to food and dietary habits and were followed up after five years.
Epic's study co-ordinator, Dr Elio Riboli, of the WHO International Agency for Research into Cancer, said this study of so many different populations and diets had provided an accurate picture of how different kinds of familiar foods related to the incidence of bowel cancer.