Day 033 - 10 Oct 94 - Page 09


     
     1        just ask you a question.
     2        A.  You would like me to read the Conclusions on page
     3        157?
     4
     5   Q.   Yes, just those two paragraphs.
     6        A.  "Dietary factors are ----".
     7
     8   Q.   Do not read it out; just read them to yourself.
     9
    10   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Which page is this?
    11
    12   MR. MORRIS:  157, Conclusions.
    13        A.  Yes.
    14
    15   Q.   I just want to focus on the first sentence:  "Dietary
    16        factors are now known to influence the development of a
    17        wide range of chronic diseases, eg. Coronary heart
    18        disease, various cancers, hypertension, cerebrovascular
    19        disease, and diabetes".  Do you agree with that statement?
    20        A.  Yes, I would, because the use of the word "known" is
    21        considerably stronger than "suspected" or "thought to
    22        be".  These links are now accepted and, as they say,
    23        "known".
    24
    25   Q.   The last sentence:  "Their prevention or reduction is both
    26        a social responsibility and an economic necessity."
    27        A.  Yes, I would agree very much with that statement.
    28
    29   Q.   So that general position in those two paragraphs -- is
    30        that something you share?
    31        A.  I share this.  I certainly would agree with their
    32        position and I believe most other physicians and
    33        researchers would as well.
    34
    35   Q.   In America has there been official concern and position
    36        about the links between diet and cancer for a number of
    37        years?
    38        A.  There has been a great deal of concern for many years,
    39        and this has not been limited to concern but has led to a
    40        very careful review of the research as well as to
    41        conclusions about the nature of the links between dietary
    42        factors and cancer, and has led all major bodies, all
    43        major cancer research bodies, as well as bodies dealing
    44        with heart disease and other chronic diseases, to issue
    45        clear cut nutrient guidelines for the reduction first of
    46        fat, but also of other -- but also calling for other
    47        dietary changes.
    48
    49   Q.   How long does that go back?  When was the first official
    50        position taken on the links between diet and cancer, for 
    51        example? 
    52        A.  The first one that got quite wide attention was in 
    53        1982 by the National Research Council.  Whether there were
    54        other major documents before that, I am not aware of them.
    55
    56   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Can I ask you to pause there?  I do not want
    57        you to concern yourself with this potential problem, but
    58        one of the questions in the case may be what is meant when
    59        you say that something is "linked with" something else.
    60        That phrase, "linked with", what does it mean to you?  In

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