Red meat and total cancer.
Total cancer risk: Data was provided by 2 cohorts, including 5,125 cases. No associations were found.
Total cancer mortality: Data was provided by 4 cohorts, including 27,501 cases. A significantly increased risk was found among both men and women in
one cohort of very large size (Sinha R [14]). Noticeable is the fact that the risk increased gradually with every quintile of consumption in this cohort. No
other associations were found. The average RR = 1.20. This effect size is primarily driven by one single cohort (Sinha R [14]).
Conclusion: A significantly increased cancer mortality risk was found in one cohort of very large size. No other associations were found. Even though the
effect size suggests an increased mortality risk of red meat consumption, consistency is low. Inconclusive evidence was found for an association between red meat
consumption and total cancer mortality. No associations were found with total cancer risk.
| Author | Cohort name | Cases | Relative Risk (RR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12) Kelemen LE (2005) | The Iowa Women's Health Study | 4,843 | RR = 0.97 (0.86-1.10; P = 0.64). |
| 7) Cox BD (1997) | The HALS | 282 | No significant association. |
| Total number of cases: 5,125 |
| Author | Cohort name | Cases | Relative Risk (RR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14) Sinha R (2009) | The NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study | 16,433 men, and 8,929 women | Men: HR = 1.22 (1.16-1.29; P = < 0.001). Women: HR = 1.20 (1.12-1.30; P = < 0.001). |
| 12) Kelemen LE (2005) | The Iowa Women's Health Study | 1,676 | RR = 1.04 (0.85-1.27; P = 0.52). |
| 11) Khan MM (2004) | No cohort name | 155 men, and 89 women | Men: RR = 1.1 (0.8-1.6). Women: RR = 1.1 (0.7-1.7). |
| 8) Whiteman D (1999) | The OXCHECK Study | 219 | RR = 0.88 (0.59-1.93). |
| Total number of cases: 27,501 | Average RR = 1.20 |
| Author | Cohort name | Subjects | Years of follow-up | Cases | End point | Consumption of | Relative Risk (RR) | Adjustments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14) Sinha R (2009) | The National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study. | 322,263 men, and 223,390 women. (USA) | 10 (1995-2005) | Men: 16,433. Women: 8,929. | Cancer mortality (oral cavity and pharynx, digestive tract, respiratory tract, soft tissue [including heart], skin [excluding basal and squamous cell carcinoma], female genital system and breast, male genital system, urinary tract, endocrine system, lymphoma, leukemia, and other miscelleneous cancers) | Red meat (all types of beef and pork, including bacon, beef, cold cuts, ham, hamburger, hotdogs, liver, pork, sausage, steak, and meats in foods such as pizza, chili, lasagna, and stew) |
Age, race, total energy intake, education, marital status, family history of cancer, BMI, smoking history, vigorous physical activity, alcohol intake, vitamin supplement user, and vegetable consumption. |
12) Kelemen LE. (2005) | The Iowa Women's Health study. | 29,017 postmenopausal women aged 55-69. | (USA) 15 (1986-2000) | 4,843? (incidence), and | 1,676? (mortality) Cancer incidence and mortality | Red meats (beef, pork, and processed meat) |
|
*Carbohydrate rich foods [defined as: A composite of refined carbohydrates (rice, pasta, potatoes, refined cold breakfast cereal, muffins, snack foods, sweetened sodas, pizza, chocolate, candy, cakes, cookies, donuts, pastries, pies) and whole-grain carbohydrates (dark bread, brown rice, oatmeal, whole-grain breakfast cereal, bran, wheat germ, and other grains such as bulgar, kasha, and couscous)]. Age, total energy, saturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, monounsaturated fat, trans-fat, total fiber, dietary cholesterol, dietary methionine, alcohol, smoking, activity level, BMI, history of hypertension, postmenopausal hormone use, multivitamin use, vitamin E supplement use, education, family history of cancer, servings of fruits and vegetables excluding potatoes, legumes, dairy, eggs, red meats, poultry, and fish. |
11) Khan MM. (2004) | No cohort name | 1,524 men and 1,634 women aged ≥ 40 living in Hokkaido, Japan. | 1984-2002 | 155 men, 89 women? | Total cancer mortality | Meat (except chicken. Not defined) | Men: RR = 1.1 (0.8-1.6; No P-value). | Women: RR = 1.1 (0.7-1.7; No P-value). RRs are for consumption ≥ several times/wk vs ≤ several times/month. Men: age and smoking. Women: age, health status, health education, health screening + smoking. |
8) Whiteman D. (1999) | The OXCHECK Study. | 10,522 men and women aged 35-64 without a previous history of angina. | (UK) 9 | (1989-1997) 219 | Cancer mortality | Fresh or frozen red meat other than processed meat (e.g. beef, lamb, pork) |
RR = 0.88 (0.59-1.93; No P-value) for the highest vs lowest tertile of consumption. | Amount specific data (days/wk): < 1: RR = 1. 1-3: RR = 1.11 (0.79-1.57). 4-7: RR = 0.88 (0.59-1.32). Gender, smoking and age. |
7) Cox BD (1997) | The British Health and Lifestyle Survey (HALS). | 1,630 men and 2,030 women without cancer. | 7 | (1984-85 to 1991-92) 133? men, and | 149? women Cancer risk | Red carcase meat (not defined) | No significant association was found among men or women for the highest vs lowest quartile of consumption (Consumption every day vs < once week. No RRs shown, but all RRs for quartile 2-4 were < 1). | Age, and smoking. |
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