Day 254 - 22 May 96 - Page 63


     
     1   MR. JUSTICE BELL: Just pause a moment.  Yes.
     2
     3   MS. STEEL:   I mean, it says in the conclusion that although the
     4        mechanism of the protective effect is unclear the fact that
     5        fruit and vegetables protect against carcinogenesis at a
     6        wide of range of sites is indisputable.  I take it you are
     7        not going to disagree with that?
     8        A.  I would agree.
     9
    10   Q.   So, despite the fact that they do not know the exact
    11        mechanisms by which it works, it seems everybody is
    12        convinced that it does work?
    13        A.  Yes.
    14
    15   Q.   If we go to the final page of the report, page 38, this is
    16        the view of Dr or Professor Hill.
    17
    18   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Just call him Hill.
    19
    20   MR. MORRIS:  It might be a woman?
    21        A.  It is not a woman, no, it is a man.
    22
    23   Q.   It is a man is it?
    24
    25   MS. STEEL:   It says, "Thus the overall conclusion must be that
    26        only the two following recommendations might be considered
    27        justifiable in the light of current knowledge, and the
    28        first one is to maintain a healthy body weight.  Many
    29        cancers as well as many other diseases with a high
    30        mortality risk are associated with overweight.  Avoidance
    31        of obesity may decrease the risk of cancer at a number of
    32        sites and is unlikely to increase the risk of cancer at any
    33        site.  Obesity can be avoided by increased exercise or by
    34        control of energy intake", and in No. 2, "eat plenty of raw
    35        and preserved fruits, salads and vegetables.  There is
    36        evidence to suggest that these may be protective against a
    37        wide range of cancers and are not positively related to
    38        any, although much of the evidence is obtained from
    39        observational studies."
    40
    41        "There are theoretical and practical reasons for suggesting
    42        dietary advice such as this should be targeted particularly
    43        at the young.  As the results emerge from current
    44        intervention studies it is likely that it will be
    45        reasonable to advise the general public to eat a decreased
    46        amounts of total fat and saturated fat as is consistent
    47        with a specific UK Government Health of the Nation White
    48        Paper target, and to eat greater amounts of cereals and
    49        complex carbohydrates.  That point has probably already
    50        been reached for groups of people at high risk of cancer, 
    51        such as first degree relatives of patients with cancer of 
    52        the breast, colorectum, or endometrium in whom the balance 
    53        is tilted towards benefit".  So, effectively, what is there
    54        is that ----
    55
    56   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Do you want to ask if there is any
    57        difference, any reservation, about that?
    58
    59   MS. STEEL:   Do you agree with all of that?
    60        A.  I would say in general I would agree with that.

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