Day 014 - 20 Jul 94 - Page 20


     
     1        the shorter chains with less than 12 carbon atoms in them
              do not have a major effect on the blood cholesterol
     2        concentration.
 
     3   Q.   Are those, all those fatty acids, saturated fatty acids,
              shorter or longer chains, to be found in animal fat?
     4        A.  Yes.
 
     5   Q.   I want to ask you now again about your scale.  Again
              remembering the question put by his Lordship, where in the
     6        scale, in your view, and as result of the work you have
              done, would you put a proposed relationship between the
     7        consumption of fat and cancer of the colon or rectum?
              A.  Well, my view it would be about three.
     8
         Q.   About three.  Between the consumption of fat and cancer of
     9        the breast, where we would find that on the scale?
              A.  Probably about the same.
    10
         Q.   From your study of the literature on this subject, the
    11        relationship between consumption of fat and cancer, would
              you or would you not -- put it this way:  How do you react
    12        to the suggestion that there is an accepted medical fact
              that there is a causal relationship between the two?
    13        A.  I would be fairly sceptical.
 
    14   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I think, Mr. Rampton -- well, it is not for
              me to interpret your question, but the word "accepted" had
    15        significance in the question.
 
    16   MR. RAMPTON:  It does.  Maybe I can split it up.
 
    17   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Did it not?
 
    18   MR. RAMPTON:  It did.  Maybe I can split it up.  Is there some
              evidence suggestive of a relationship -- you notice I do
    19        not use the word "causal" -- between the consumption of
              fat and those two cancers?  I will not split them up for
    20        the moment.
              A.  Yes, there is, but I think we need to be conscious of
    21        the extreme difficulty of trying to establish the
              relationships between cause and effect with cancer.
    22
         Q.   Can we keep it simple for the moment?  There is some
    23        evidence, you have told us, suggestive of a relationship
               -- and I give it no epithet -- between consumption of fat
    24        and, let us say, cancer of the colon?
              A.  Yes.
    25
         Q.   Is there evidence of a character such that a dispassionate 
    26        and responsible scientist would draw the conclusion that 
              there was a causal relationship between the two? 
    27        A.  I do not think that would be justified.
 
    28   Q.   So far as you are aware, is there any reliable, credible
              scientific literature which convincingly proposes such a
    29        causal relationship?
              A.  Not to my knowledge.
    30
         Q.   Can we now look to see, please, Professor Wheelock, what

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