Vegetarians have 14% lower cancer risk than meat-eaters, study finds

According to a large study, vegetarians have a lower chance of developing cancer than people who eat meat.

A team of researchers from Oxford University analysed data on more than 470,000 Britons and found that pescatarians had a 10% reduced risk. The study found that people who eat small amounts of meat have a 2% lower risk of developing cancer.

Being a low meat-eater, fish-eater or vegetarian was associated with a lower risk of all cancer sites when compared to regular meat-eaters.

The authors made clear that their findings did not prove that regular meat-eating increased the risk of cancer. Smoking and body fat can explain the differences found.

The study of participants in the UK Biobank found that.

• The risk of developing colorectal cancer was 9% lower for low meat-eaters who consume meat five or fewer times a week.

• The 18% lower risk of postmenopausal breast cancer for vegetarian women may be due to their lower body mass index.

• Men who are vegetarian have a lower risk of cancer than men who are pescatarians.

According to the results, certain types of diet can have an impact on the risk of cancer.

The results show that people should limit their intake of red and processed meat and eat more vegetables, fruits and grains.

The lower risk of colorectal cancer in low meat-eaters is consistent with previous evidence suggesting an adverse impact of meat intake. The lower risk of breast cancer for vegetarian women is explained by their lower body mass index.

It is not clear whether the other differences observed for all cancers and for prostrate cancer are due to other factors or are a result of causality.

The researchers found that being a low meat-eater, pescatarian or vegetarian was associated with a lower risk of cancer. Their results will be published on Thursday.

The chief executive of the Vegetarian Society said that this study adds to a growing body of research reinforcing the positive, protective effects of a vegetarian diet.

With cancer now affecting one in every two of us across the country, adopting a healthy vegetarian diet can help prevent this disease. There is evidence that a balanced vegetarian diet can reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

The relationship between diet and cancer risk is being studied by Watling and his colleagues.

According to surveys, between 5% and 7% of Britons are vegetarian.

Dr Julie Sharp, Cancer Research UK's head of health and patient information, said that while reducing intake of processed meat has been proven to reduce the risk of bowel cancer, having some bacon or ham every now and then won't do.