Day 035 - 12 Oct 94 - Page 16


     
     1        substances may act directly to damage the bowel lining, or
     2        they may be converted to secondary bile acids, which are
     3        known to produce tumours in animals.  A high-fat diet may
     4        also affect the risk of colon cancer by increasing the
     5        amount of other damaging chemicals (lipid peroxides) in
     6        the bowel, by causing changes in the cell membrane, and/or
     7        by affecting hormone regulation."
     8
     9        Dr. Barnard, I am going to, if I may, finish this
    10        passage:  "Americans are encouraged to increase their
    11        fibre intake and to get their fibre from a variety of
    12        dietary sources.  They are also urged to reduce their fat
    13        consumption and to follow a balanced diet that includes
    14        the recommended daily allowances (RDAs) of vitamins,
    15        minerals, and protein.  The amount of fibre in the
    16        American diet, which currently averages 8 to 12 grams per
    17        day, should be increased to 20 to 30 grams but should not
    18        exceed 35 grams."
    19
    20        May I pause there, Dr. Barnard:  Why should the amount of
    21        fibre in the diet not exceed 35 grammes, according to
    22        these people at least?  What is their reason for saying
    23        that?
    24        A.  First of all, let me say I do not agree with that
    25        limitation because there are populations on earth that
    26        consume considerably more fibre than that, but I cannot
    27        tell you what is in the mind of the National Cancer
    28        Institute.  If you would like me to speculate, I would be
    29        pleased to.
    30
    31   Q.   If you do not know what the scientific reason is proposed
    32        for that limit in fibre, there is not much point your
    33        speculating, I do not think.  It goes on over the page, it
    34        tells us where fibre comes from in parentheses.  Then it
    35        goes on:  "The portion of calories supplied by fats should
    36        be reduced from the current average of nearly 40 percent
    37        to 30 percent or less."  I take it you do not agree with
    38        that either?
    39        A.  I agree it should be reduced.  When one attends
    40        sessions of National Cancer Institute spokespersons, it is
    41        quite clear that reductions well below 30 per cent are
    42        entertained by them.  The 30 per cent figure is quite a
    43        generous one as far as fat intake goes.  But it has been a
    44        figure that many people have used as an arbitrary round
    45        figure that does not require much change on the part of
    46        the American public.
    47
    48   Q.   Then it tells us in parenthesis where Americans get their
    49        fat.  It goes on:  "Although precise predictions are
    50        impossible, some scientists have estimated that thousands 
    51        of cases of large bowel cancer might be prevented annually 
    52        by these simple dietary modifications".  As I have 
    53        understood what you say in your book and the effect of
    54        what you have been telling this court, that simply is not
    55        good enough; that kind of an estimate is far too generous
    56        to fat, according to you, am I right?
    57        A.  The 30 per cent fat figure, yes, is too high, in my
    58        judgment.
    59
    60   Q.   These simple dietary modifications take it down to under

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