Vegetarian Diet Linked to Reduced Cancer Risk

Strategic Insights -

Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery that a vegetarian diet is associated with a significant reduction in cancer risk, particularly for stomach and lymphoma cancers. The study, conducted by the Loma Linda University Department of Research Affairs, analyzed data from tens of thousands of Seventh-day Adventists vegetarians and non-vegetarians and found that a vegetarian diet was linked to a 12% overall reduced risk of all cancers. The study also found that vegans had a 25% lower risk of common breast and prostate cancers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that a vegetarian diet was associated with a 45% reduced risk of stomach cancer and a 25% reduced risk of lymphomas.
  • The study also found that vegans had a 25% lower risk of common breast and prostate cancers.
  • The risk of colorectal cancer was reduced by approximately 20% with a vegetarian diet.
  • The study suggests that pescatarian diets may have less risk of colorectal cancers compared to other vegetarian diets.
  • The study was funded by Loma Linda University and the National Cancer Institute, with funding to establish the original cohort also provided by the World Cancer Research Fund.
  • The study involved comparing vegetarian Adventists to non-vegetarian Adventists, which could indicate the findings would be even more substantial when compared to the general population.

Statistics:

  • 45% reduction in stomach cancer risk associated with a vegetarian diet.
  • 25% reduction in lymphoma risk associated with a vegetarian diet.
  • 25% lower risk of common breast and prostate cancers in vegans compared to non-vegans.
  • 20% reduction in colorectal cancer risk associated with a vegetarian diet.
  • 12% overall reduced risk of all cancers associated with a vegetarian diet.
  • 96,000 people were included in the Adventist Health Study-2.
  • 80,000 study participants were vegetarians.

Sources:

  • Loma Linda University Health
  • "Longitudinal Associations Between Vegetarian Dietary Habits and Site-Specific Cancers in the Adventist Health Study-2 North American Cohort" published in [month] [year]
  • National Cancer Institute
  • World Cancer Research Fund