Diet that is rich in fibre reduces the risk of colon cancer by 40 per cent say researchers.

Citation

(2003), "Diet that is rich in fibre reduces the risk of colon cancer by 40 per cent say researchers.", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 33 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.2003.01733fab.006

Diet that is rich in fibre reduces the risk of colon cancer by 40 per cent say researchers.

Diet that is rich in fibre reduces the risk of colon cancer by 40 per cent say researchers.

Diets that are rich in fibre have a strongly protective effect against colon cancer, according to recent studies reported in The Lancet medical journal.

The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study, which tracked the health of 519,978 men and women aged 25-70 years from ten European countries after they completed a dietary questionnaire between 1992-98, showed that dietary fibre in foods was inversely related to the incidence of large bowel cancer.

The protective effect was greatest for the left side of the colon, and least for the rectum. No food source of fibre was significantly more protective than others.

The EPIC researchers say: “In populations with low average intake of dietary fibre, an approximate doubling of total fibre intake from foods could reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by 40 per cent”.

US researchers reached similar conclusions when they used a 137-item food frequency questionnaire to assess the relation of fibre intake and frequency of colorectal cancer. The American study, headed by Dr Ulrike Peters of the US National Cancer Institute, compared the fibre intake of 33,971 men and women who did not have colon cancer and had been shown on examination to be polyp-free with that of 3,951 people who had been diagnosed as having large bowel cancer. The study was done within the prostate, lung, colorectal and ovarian (PLCO) cancer screening trial.

The research showed that high intakes of dietary fibre were associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer. The effects were strongest for fibre from grains, cereals and fruit. Risk of rectal cancer was not significantly associated with fibre intake.

Oatly, the Swedish oat-based substitute for milk now on sale in UK supermarkets, can help people wanting to reduce their risk by increasing fibre levels in their diet. Oatly is good for the gut too because it contains plenty of natural fermentable oat fibre.

It can be used in the same way as dairy milk. You can put it on your cereal, or use for cooking anything from cakes to custards and sauces. Switching from dairy milk to Oatly also helps one feel full and resist snacking between meals, also to stay regular.

Drinking your way to health with Oatly oat “milk” also ensures all the cholesterol-lowering properties of oats are gained. Oatly is stocked in supermarkets and larger branches of Boots the Chemists. A litre pack costs £1.39 and will keep for five days in the fridge once opened.

For further details contact the Oatly Consumer Helpline on: (0845) 6012297; or visit the Web site at: www.oatly.com