Day 034 - 11 Oct 94 - Page 27


     
     1
     2   Q.   Hypothesis as to the contribution of high fat diets to
     3        that?
     4        A.  That is correct, my Lord.
     5
     6   Q.   That is what you get out of this, is it?
     7        A.  Yes.  From his introductory comments the study itself,
     8        as briefly described in the abstract, provides further
     9        confirmatory evidence that is, indeed, consistent with
    10        that hypothesis and supportive of it.
    11
    12   MR. MORRIS:  So you are saying that he was saying in the
    13        discussion that the links between fat and the oestrogen
    14        production has been hypothesized to occur in many ways,
    15        but his actual research, he says, is evidence that this is
    16        true?
    17        A.  Yes, he conducted - yes; in the introductory
    18        paragraphs he describes what was known prior to beginning
    19        his study; that it was already known that a higher level
    20        of oestrogen and persistent oestrogen stimulation was a
    21        risk factor for breast cancer.  He notes that others have
    22        shared his hypothesis, that a high fat diet may play a
    23        number of different roles here and he describes what they
    24        are.  However, it is important, it is very important, to
    25        emphasise that this paper did not simply generate this
    26        hypothesis.
    27
    28   MR. MORRIS:  I think we can move on if there are no
    29        further ----
    30        A.  Sorry, let me finish this one thought, if I may.
    31        I would like to emphasise that, although I read the
    32        introductory section last and read the hypothesis (that is
    33        where the study began), that is prior to him running the
    34        study, he did a study to confirm that, indeed, there was
    35         -- that this hypothesis would actually test out to be
    36        true in this population.
    37
    38        So, with women with advanced cancer, he did not simply
    39        look to see whether increased oestrogen would increase
    40        their likelihood of dying.  What he found was, yes, in
    41        fact the high fat diet was borne out and supported his
    42        hypothesis, suggesting that the high fat diet which
    43        elevates oestrogen levels in turn is responsible for not
    44        only an increase risk of breast cancer, which has already
    45        been accepted, but an increase likelihood of dying later;
    46        and that this was already known and reported by the
    47        mid-1980s; a hypothesis which, by the way, gets continuing
    48        support.  I have no further comments on that.
    49
    50   Q.   If we move back to No. 24 which I now have copies of for 
    51        the judge.  Do you have one? 
    52 
    53   THE WITNESS:  Yes, I do.  Toniolo's study?
    54
    55   MR. MORRIS:  Yes.  Has everyone got No. 24?
    56        A.  I will be very brief on this one as well, if I may.
    57
    58   Q.   OK.
    59        A.  Just again two points.
    60

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