Day 034 - 11 Oct 94 - Page 50


     
     1        that nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, most
     2        specifically, were provided in adequate amounts in the
     3        diet.  However, there are far more diseases in cases of
     4        premature mortality in western countries in modern times
     5        due to excesses of nutrients rather than due to
     6        deficiencies, particularly excess fat, excess saturated
     7        fat, in particular, excess cholesterol, and there are
     8        others that by their excess contribute to disease and to,
     9        as I said, premature mortality.  That is not to say that
    10        there are not still problems with deficiencies -- there
    11        are -- but I agree with the thrust of that paragraph.
    12
    13   Q.   If we go over the page to page (iii), the second
    14        paragraph:  "Concerning the strength of the link between
    15        diet and disease, the experts concluded that repeated and
    16        consistent findings of an association between specific
    17        dietary factors and a disease suggest that such
    18        associations are real and indicative of a cause-and-effect
    19        relationship".
    20        A.  Yes.
    21
    22   Q.   So, are they saying there that when associations are so
    23        strong that can lead to a conclusion of cause-and-effect?
    24        A.  Let me just read that to make sure I
    25        carefully understand it.  Yes.  They do seem to be saying
    26        that if one finds associations repeatedly and consistently
    27        that that suggests that there is, in fact, a
    28        cause-and-effect relationship.  I presume they are
    29        referring to the results on fat and cancer and fat and
    30        heart disease and others.
    31
    32   Q.   If you read the last sentence:  "If such trends continue,
    33        the end of this century see cardiovascular disease and
    34        cancer established as major health problems in virtually
    35        every country in the world"?
    36        A.  Yes.  They are speaking of countries that have
    37        historically not enjoyed the wealth that is enjoyed in
    38        western countries.
    39
    40   Q.   If we look down to the next paragraph, the bottom, they
    41        are talking about the recommended dietary intake which the
    42        World Health Organisation has put forward.  It says:  "The
    43        zero value given as the lower limit for saturated fatty
    44        acids, dietary cholesterol, and free sugars indicates that
    45        these dietary components meet no special nutritional need
    46        and are thus not required for the prevention of any
    47        deficiency disease".  What does that mean to you?
    48        A.  What they are saying is that saturated fat is not
    49        needed in the diet.  It is not essential.  Cholesterol is
    50        not required in the diet.  Free sugar is not required in 
    51        the diet -- free sugar as contrasted with complex 
    52        carbohydrates.  I might mention that Walter Willett (whose 
    53        name has come up a number of times) has said that the
    54        optimal amount of cholesterol in the diet is probably
    55        zero.  A recent conference of distinguished experts
    56        in heart disease made exactly the same statement.  The
    57        only way to get zero cholesterol in the diet is, of
    58        course, to eliminate animal products.  But what these
    59        experts are saying is that an ideal diet, from a health
    60        standpoint, would eliminate those products.

Prev Next Index