Day 035 - 12 Oct 94 - Page 12


     
     1        Cancer Society (1990) and the National Cancer Institute
     2        recommend that it is prudent to reduce fat intake,
     3        increase fibre, eat more fruits and vegetables, avoid
     4        obesity, drink alcohol only in moderation, and minimize
     5        consumption of salted or smoked foods.  Nutrients
     6        recommended for increase include folate, vitamins C and E,
     7        beta-carotene, retinoids, carotenoids, and calcium.  When
     8        high levels of specific nutrients, such as beta-carotene,
     9        are not practically derived from the diet, supplements can
    10        be used."
    11
    12        Dr. Barnard, I ask you this question:  Do you see a
    13        difference between what appears in those two paragraphs
    14        from what you said on that television programme, namely,
    15        that 35 to 50 per cent of cancers are due to diet?
    16        A.  In these paragraphs the difference that I see is that
    17        in these paragraphs an upper limit percentage is not given
    18        in this summary.  However, in other National Cancer
    19        Institute documents upper limits have been provided.
    20
    21   Q.   This is a postulation or, indeed, Dr. Barnard, it is more
    22        than that, is it not, or less than that; it is a report of
    23        a postulation.  What do you understand by the word
    24        "postulation"?
    25        A.  Perhaps a belief.
    26
    27   Q.   A belief and hypothesis?
    28        A.  Those would be reasonable synonyms.
    29
    30   Q.   It is different, is it not, from an assertion of fact?
    31        A.  It is a statement of fact.  However, what they are
    32        saying is that, well, they are stating here as a fact that
    33        people believe there is that association as evidence for
    34        it, but you are right they are not -- they are not saying
    35        there is a clear cut, fully defined cause-and-effect
    36        relationship.
    37
    38   Q.   If we look over the page at page 12, sorry, two pages
    39        over, we see a column, do we not, headed:  "Future
    40        Research Opportunities and Barriers to Progress:  The Need
    41        for Additional Basic Research", and it begins:  "Although
    42        epidemiological studies are demonstrating that dietary
    43        interventions can reduce the incidence and risk of cancer,
    44        the scientific basis for this conclusion requires further
    45        research."
    46
    47        Dr. Barnard, if your assertion on the television and,
    48        indeed, in your evidence in this court were accurate,
    49        there would be no need for any further research, would
    50        there? 
    51        A.  No, that is not what I have said.  I think there is a 
    52        great deal of room for additional research in the area of 
    53        cancer.  On the television programme I was clearly not
    54        citing this document because this document had not been
    55        printed.  I was citing other National Cancer Institute
    56        documents that do support what I have said.  The National
    57        Cancer Institute does not publish simply this booklet;
    58        they publish a journal called the Journal of the National
    59        Cancer Institute, which was repeatedly cited; they also
    60        publish a number of booklets; they also have spokespersons

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