Day 034 - 11 Oct 94 - Page 42


     
     1        A high-fat diet may also affect the risk of colon cancer
     2        by increasing the amount of other damaging chemicals
     3        (lipid peroxides) in the bowel, by causing changes in the
     4        cell membrane, and/or by affecting hormone regulation".
     5
     6        What is perhaps worth drawing to your attention is again
     7        this use of the word "links" which we have seen before in
     8        official government documents describing the relationship
     9        between high fat diets and in this case colon cancer.  My
    10        understanding of that word, perhaps, might be that the
    11        high fat diet is suspected of making a contribution,
    12        although not necessarily directly and firmly established
    13        as a cause.  That is all I wanted to bring to your
    14        attention from this booklet.
    15
    16   MR. MORRIS:  Just wait one minute, Dr. Barnard.  If you look
    17        over on page 9 of that document, at the bottom of the
    18        first column on page 9, do you want to read to yourself
    19        the paragraph about -- it is the last couple of sentences
    20        in that column starting:  "A related dietary intervention
    21        trial"?
    22        A.  Yes.
    23
    24   Q.   And make any comment you would like to make.  It is
    25        regarding polyps.
    26        A.  Yes.  What is being described here in those sentences
    27        is that, in their words, there is strong evidence that
    28        colorectal cancer develops from polyps, it is actually
    29        direct quotes:  "Given the strong evidence that colorectal
    30        cancer develops from polyps, these studies may have
    31        important implications for reducing the risk of this type
    32        of cancer".  "These studies" meaning actually using low
    33        fat/high fibre, vegetable and fruit enriched diets in
    34        individuals who have already had polyps removed
    35        surgically.
    36        The goal here of such studies is to prevent cancer
    37        recurrence, and some such studies have already been done
    38        and have been shown to be helpful.
    39
    40   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Can you read the whole of that again?
    41        I think my page is cut off.
    42
    43   MR. MORRIS:  I think it the word "cancer" that is cut off; it
    44        is the same in my one, "risk of this type of cancer".  Is
    45        that correct, "cancer" is the last word?
    46        A.  The last word, yes, "reducing the risk of this type of
    47        cancer".
    48
    49   Q.   Shall we move on to the next document?  The Surgeon
    50        General report we have dealt with.  "Bowes and Church's 
    51        Food Values of Portions Commonly Used".  Do you want to 
    52        refer to that one? 
    53        A.  Not beyond what I made reference to in my statement.
    54
    55   Q.   Can you explain what the status of this document is?
    56        A.  That is -----
    57
    58   Q.   It is No. 8 by the way on the list.
    59        A.  Yes, "Bowes and Churches Food Values Portions Commonly
    60        Used" is the most common reference guide for dieticians or

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