permaculture

["Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lfl@intrex.net>]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [NAFEX] More fruit, less cancer - report
Date: Mon, 12 May 2003 11:54:09 -0500
From: Suzi Teghtmeyer <srt175f@smsu.edu>
Reply-To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org

Childhood Consumption of Fruit Lowers Risk of Cancer as an Adult
Thu May 8, 8:00 PM ET
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1433&ncid=1419&e=5&u=/acurian/20030509/hl_acurian/childhood_consumption_of_fruit_lowers_risk_of_cancer_as_an_adult
Source: 411Cancer.com "Cancer Experts leading the way to optimal cancer care."

According to an article recently published in the Journal of Epidemiology
and Community Health, adults who consumed large quantities of fruit during
childhood years appeared to have significantly lower rates of cancer than
those consuming small quantities of fruit as children.

One important goal of cancer research is to identify environmental risk
factors for different types of cancer. Some factors such as diet, exercise,
and pollution have been associated with a higher incidence of specific
cancers. Conversely, other factors have been associated with a lower
incidence of certain cancers. Researchers continue to evaluate
environmental factors that may either increase or decrease the risk of
developing certain types of cancer so that better strategies for prevention
and/or screening can be produced and implemented.

Diet is often investigated by researchers looking for strategies to prevent
cancer. Many studies have suggested that diet may influence the development
of cancer, and most studies suggest that diets including fruit, vegetables,
and whole grains appear beneficial. However, little research has explored
whether the diet of children affects cancer risk in adulthood.

Between 1937 and 1939, a study known as the Boyd Orr cohort interviewed
nearly 5,000 individuals from working class backgrounds living in England
and Scotland. Dietary questionnaires documented household food inventories
for evaluation of family diet and health. Consumption of fruit, vegetables,
vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta carotene were recorded during this two year
period. After over 60 years of follow-up, 483 people had been diagnosed
with cancer.

The study reported that adults who had eaten large quantities of fruit as
children were 38% less likely to develop cancer than those who ate little
fruit in childhood. None of the other dietary factors, including
consumption of high quantities of vegetables, appeared to affect cancer
risk. These researchers hypothesized that cooking techniques of the 1930s,
which included cooking food for long periods of time, may be responsible
for the apparent lack of long-term protection from vegetables.

In conclusion, these researchers suggested that consumption of fruit during
childhood appears to confer long-term protection against the development of
cancer in adults.

Reference:

Maynard M, Gunnell D, Emmett P, et al. Fruit, vegetables, and antioxidants
in childhood and risk of adult cancer: the Boyd Orr cohort. Journal of
Epidemiology and Community Health. 2003;57:218-25.

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Suzi Teghtmeyer
Librarian, Paul Evans Library of Fruit Science
Southwest Missouri State University Mtn. Grove Campus and Missouri Fruit
Experiment Station
9740 Red Spring Rd, Mountain Grove, MO 65711
Phone: 417-926-4105, Fax: 417-926-6646,  email: srt175f@smsu.edu
URL: http://library.smsu.edu/paulevans/
AgNIC Viticulture site: http://library.smsu.edu/paulevans/viticulture1.shtml
Member: CBHL, USAIN, ALA, ACRL, IAALD