Day 017 - 25 Jul 94 - Page 57


     
     1   Q.   May I read the Conclusions 3.5.6. on page 52:  "The Panel
              concluded that there is currently insufficient evidence on
     2        which to base a recommendation for an decrease in fat
              intakes to prevent cancer, although an increase in
     3        consumption of any fatty acids should not be encouraged.
              The Panel agreed that the DRV's based on other
     4        considerations presented in paragraph 3.8 were consistent
              with a prudent view of the current data relating dietary
     5        fat and occurrence of cancer."
 
     6        I inform you, though I know you probably know it anyway,
              the recommendations for dietary reference values for fat
     7        are saturated fat ten per cent of total dietary energy,
              total fat 33 per cent.  That is in paragraph 3.8.  If you
     8        want to have a look:  (i) and (vi).  33 per cent if you
              include alcohol; 35 per cent if you exclude it.  This was
     9        written probably in 1991, though this is a revised edition
              for 1994; in some respects revised; looking at it from
    10        your perspective as a person who spent many years
              considering this topic, do those conclusions appear to you
    11        to be sensible?
              A.  Yes, I think these conclusions are very fair, bearing
    12        in mind the current level of knowledge about the factors
              they discuss.
    13
         Q.   Do the panel's recommendations for the consumption of fat
    14        expressed as a percentage of total energy intake appear to
              you to be sensible?
    15        A.  It seems very reasonable, yes.
 
    16   Q.   Are you conscious that in some parts of America it has
              been suggested that somewhat lower percentages of fat as
    17        an intake of energy are advised?
              A.  Yes.  They have suggested energy levels as low as 25
    18        or even 20 per cent.
 
    19   Q.   That is right. One of these papers we have in your
              references.  Maybe even Wynder's paper, 20 to 25, I think,
    20        of which only a third has saturated fat, 8.3 per cent.  Is
              there any significance in that difference of view between
    21        the Americans and the British?
              A.  No.  I think Wynder is an enthusiast.  I think that
    22        perhaps explains why he is suggesting these levels.  If
              you actually look objectively at the scientific evidence
    23        available there is no justification for suggesting that 20
              to 25 per cent is better than 30 per cent or 35 per cent.
    24
         Q.   When you say "Wynder is an enthusiast", what do you mean
    25        by that?
              A.  I think he has been one of the first persons to 
    26        propose relationship between diet and cancer, particularly 
              colorectal cancer, and we all sometimes fall into the trap 
    27        of putting ourselves into one corner and being reluctant
              to come out of that corner, even though the scientific
    28        evidence is not supportive of that.  I think he has maybe
              got into a position that he has a belief, that he believes
    29        this is the way things should go; some of his studies have
              suggested that this is the way things should go; and he is
    30        reluctant to move from that particular position.
 

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