Fewer Blood, Bladder, and Stomach Cancers in Vegetarians

[Hopeful]

As reported by BBC News. 2009 Jun 30

Vegetarians developed fewer cancers of the blood, bladder, and stomach, according to a new study from the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Unfortunately, colon cancer risk was not diminished by a vegetarian diet. The researchers compared vegetarians with people who ate meat and with those who ate fish but not meat. Some of the greatest differences between meat eaters and vegetarians were found in the incidence of cancers of the lymph and blood. Vegetarians were half as likely to develop these cancers, and they were 75% less likely to develop multiple myeloma. The findings in relationship to blood cancers were new and therefore need to be confirmed before dietary changes could be recommended for these patients or for prevention. Stomach cancer was about one-third less likely in vegetarians and fish eaters than in meat eaters. The link between red meat or processed meat and stomach cancer has long been recognized. The research results were published in the June 16 online issue of the British Journal of Cancer.

Hopeful