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A study analyzed data from 1.8 million people over 16 years to examine diet and cancer risk
Vegetarians had significantly lower risks of pancreatic, prostate, breast, kidney, and multiple myeloma cancers compared to meat eaters
Researchers noted vegetarians had higher risk of esophageal cancer, possibly due to nutrient deficiencies, and called for further study
Vegetarians have a significantly lower risk of developing cancer, according to a new study.
The study — published Feb. 27 in the British Journal of Cancer — analyzed data from more than 1.8 million people for 16 years. Researchers looked specifically at the diets they followed and any cancer diagnoses that they may have received.
They discovered that individuals who followed a vegetarian diet had a substantially lower risk of developing five types of cancers. The study found that vegetarians had a 21% lower risk of pancreatic cancer, a 12% lower risk of prostate cancer and a 9% lower risk of breast cancer compared with meat eaters.
Additionally, there was a lower risk of less common types of cancer, including a 28% lower risk of kidney cancer and a 31% lower risk of multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer.
Dr. Carrie Daniel, professor of epidemiology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, told Women’s Health that diets heavy with plants can support gut health.
“Diets that emphasize plants also often replace processed or high-fat animal foods, which may further improve overall health patterns,” Daniel added.
Healthy foods
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Despite the positive data, the study also found that vegetarians had nearly double the risk of squamous cell carcinoma, the most common type of cancer of the oesophagus. Researchers believe this may be due to vegetarians typically being deficient in key nutrients.
Researchers said that more work was needed to establish whether meat consumption is problematic or if vegetarians are consuming something specific that lowers the risk of cancer.
“The most reliable takeaway is that a diet rich in whole plant foods, vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds appears beneficial, whether or not someone eliminates meat entirely,” Dr. Sylvia Crowder, health outcomes and behavior researcher at Moffitt Cancer Center, told the outlet.
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