Day 017 - 25 Jul 94 - Page 42


     
     1        dietary fibre was observed.
 
     2        Conclusions - these data provide evidence against both an
              adverse influence of fat intake and a protective effect of
     3        fibre consumption by middle-aged women on breast cancer
              incidence over eight years.  Nevertheless, the positive
     4        association between intake of animal fat and risk of colon
              cancer observed in many studies provides ample reason to
     5        limit this source of energy."
 
     6        It is right, is it not, Dr. Arnott, that Dr. Willett was
              one of those -- it was his study, to a large extent, that
     7        set the hare running, a large intake animal fat gives rise
              to risk of colon cancer?
     8        A.  Yes indeed.
 
     9   Q.   So far as that last sentence is concerned, 1992, is that
              mainstream medical thinking or not?
    10        A.  No.  I think that what most thinking medics would say
              is that we do know the answer to fat and colon cancer
    11        because -- we will be discussing it later -- there are
              again conflicting studies or studies producing conflicting
    12        evidence regarding the relationship between fat and the
              development of colon cancer.  The answer is by no means
    13        clear.
 
    14   Q.   One notices that Dr. Willett is not attributing high
              intake of animal as a cause of colon cancer, but is he
    15        being somewhat more positive, do you think, than you would
              be inclined to be in that statement?
    16        A.  He is being more positive than I would be inclined to
              be.
    17
         Q.   He is?
    18        A.  Yes.
 
    19   Q.   Now that brings you us to colon cancer.  At the end of it
              all -- perhaps you would think about this over the
    20        adjournment -- when we review the evidence on diet and
              colon cancer as well Dr. Arnott, I am going to ask you to
    21        put diet and risk of these two cancers on a sort of a
              scale from 10 down to one, so perhaps you could give that
    22        some thought when we get to that at the end of
              the review.  My Lord, I do not know whether that would be
    23        a convenient point?
 
    24   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.
 
    25   MR. RAMPTON:  Before I pass to the other topic.
  
    26   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  We will resume at 2 o'clock. 
  
    27                       (Short Adjournment)
 
    28   MR. RAMPTON:  Dr. Arnott, before we pass to cancer of the colon
              and the rectum, one question I should ask.  I cannot
    29        immediately find the reference so perhaps either you can
              or we will look for it later.  Am I right in thinking that
    30        whilst on the one hand the consumption of dietary fat in
              the United States has fallen significantly over the last

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