Day 035 - 12 Oct 94 - Page 16
1 substances may act directly to damage the bowel lining, or
2 they may be converted to secondary bile acids, which are
3 known to produce tumours in animals. A high-fat diet may
4 also affect the risk of colon cancer by increasing the
5 amount of other damaging chemicals (lipid peroxides) in
6 the bowel, by causing changes in the cell membrane, and/or
7 by affecting hormone regulation."
8
9 Dr. Barnard, I am going to, if I may, finish this
10 passage: "Americans are encouraged to increase their
11 fibre intake and to get their fibre from a variety of
12 dietary sources. They are also urged to reduce their fat
13 consumption and to follow a balanced diet that includes
14 the recommended daily allowances (RDAs) of vitamins,
15 minerals, and protein. The amount of fibre in the
16 American diet, which currently averages 8 to 12 grams per
17 day, should be increased to 20 to 30 grams but should not
18 exceed 35 grams."
19
20 May I pause there, Dr. Barnard: Why should the amount of
21 fibre in the diet not exceed 35 grammes, according to
22 these people at least? What is their reason for saying
23 that?
24 A. First of all, let me say I do not agree with that
25 limitation because there are populations on earth that
26 consume considerably more fibre than that, but I cannot
27 tell you what is in the mind of the National Cancer
28 Institute. If you would like me to speculate, I would be
29 pleased to.
30
31 Q. If you do not know what the scientific reason is proposed
32 for that limit in fibre, there is not much point your
33 speculating, I do not think. It goes on over the page, it
34 tells us where fibre comes from in parentheses. Then it
35 goes on: "The portion of calories supplied by fats should
36 be reduced from the current average of nearly 40 percent
37 to 30 percent or less." I take it you do not agree with
38 that either?
39 A. I agree it should be reduced. When one attends
40 sessions of National Cancer Institute spokespersons, it is
41 quite clear that reductions well below 30 per cent are
42 entertained by them. The 30 per cent figure is quite a
43 generous one as far as fat intake goes. But it has been a
44 figure that many people have used as an arbitrary round
45 figure that does not require much change on the part of
46 the American public.
47
48 Q. Then it tells us in parenthesis where Americans get their
49 fat. It goes on: "Although precise predictions are
50 impossible, some scientists have estimated that thousands
51 of cases of large bowel cancer might be prevented annually
52 by these simple dietary modifications". As I have
53 understood what you say in your book and the effect of
54 what you have been telling this court, that simply is not
55 good enough; that kind of an estimate is far too generous
56 to fat, according to you, am I right?
57 A. The 30 per cent fat figure, yes, is too high, in my
58 judgment.
59
60 Q. These simple dietary modifications take it down to under
