Day 023 - 13 Sep 94 - Page 33
1
2 Q. So far as the evidence of a relationship between fat,
3 whether saturated or total fat, and cancer is concerned,
4 is it still a counsel of prudence not to increase one's
5 fat intake beyond a certain level?
6 A. I think it is a counsel of prudence.
7
8 Q. In 1990 the World Health Organisation said that -- I am
9 quoting from page 62 -- "The relationships between
10 specific dietary components and cancer are much less well
11 established than those between diet and cardiovascular
12 disease". First, do you see that as a correct or an
13 incorrect statement of medical knowledge?
14 A. I would say that is a fair statement, yes.
15
16 Q. Is it still the case?
17 A. I would say it is still the case.
18
19 Q. Is it the case in relation to the consumption of fat and
20 the occurrence of cancer, that the relationship is less
21 well understood?
22 A. Oh, undoubtedly so.
23
24 Q. Or, as they say, much less well understood?
25 A. Undoubtedly so, yes.
26
27 Q. Finally this: It is only right that I should draw your
28 attention to it, perhaps in fairness to Professor
29 Wheelock. Do you have that yellow Volume V? Could you,
30 please, turn to section 5, Professor Wheelock, one of his
31 written reports dated 8th June 1993. It is the second
32 paragraph of text, Dr. Arnott, page 1. 8th June 1993
33 under introduction, the second paragraph: "However, when
34 we have ----
35 A. I am sorry, exactly where are we looking at?
36
37 Q. Do you have a tab V?
38 A. Yes, sorry, tab V.
39
40 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Page 24 of the bundle.
41
42 MR. RAMPTON: The second paragraph, Dr. Arnott: "However, when
43 we have to consider diet-related diseases, there are major
44 complications". Do you agree or disagree with that?
45 A. I would agree with that.
46
47 Q. "While it is now generally accepted that diet does play an
48 important role in the development of the so-called
49 degenerative diseases", Dr. Arnott, I understood you to
50 tell Mr. Morris that you would substitute the word "may"
51 for the word "does" at the beginning of the third line?
52 A. I think it very much depends on the degenerative
53 diseases in the discussion.
54
55 Q. So far as the cancers that we have been discussing with
56 you which is why you are here?
57 A. I would put "may".
58
59 Q. That is what I understood. "... play an important role in
60 the development of the so-called degenerative diseases,
