Five helpings of fruits and vegetables a day may not cut cancer risk that much

Apr 7 2010

By Candy Lashkari

Despite eating your five helpings of fruits and vegetables a day you may not be cutting your risk of cancer as suggested by a World Health organization study in 1997. The latest study based on healthy eating habits conducted by Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York was published in the Journal of National Cancer Institute. The study was led by Paolo Boffetta and covered almost 500,000 Europeans.

The people were eating five portions or about 400g of fruits and vegetables daily. This was supposed to be good for the heart, reduces the risk of obesity and a preventive measure against cancer. However findings based on the data from 23 centers led researchers to believe otherwise.

The data collected from ten nations for the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition compared the diet against the number of cancers between 1992 and 2000. Other factors such as smoking, obesity, alcohol intake, exercise and women taking Hormone Replacement Therapy or the Pill, were also considered in the study.

It was found that only 2.5% of cancers could be averted by eating more fruits and vegetables. This is not as large a figure as previous thought. Despite the assertion of the World Health Organization that five helpings of fruits and vegetables would prevent cancer and other chronic diseases, the research has failed to substantiate the suggestion.

At the most two extra helpings of fruit and vegetables per day can prevent 2.6% cancers in men and 2.3% in women. Vegetables that are richer in nutrients than fruits helped more. Heavy drinkers seemed to benefit more from the increased healthy food intake, especially when it was a matter of protection against cancers caused by alcohol or smoking

Professor Walter Willet of Harvard University wrote in an editorial saying that the research just confirmed what have been findings of previous studies, that is “that any association of intake and fruits and vegetables with risk of cancer is weak at best”.

The World Cancer Research Fund felt that a reduced risk of cancer of 2.5% should not be lightly dismissed as it was still affecting and helping a considerable number of people cut their risk for cancer. "For the UK, this works out as about 7,000 cases a year, which is a significant number," says Dr Rachel Thompson from the charity.

Yinka Ebo of the Cancer Research UK said: "It's still a good idea to eat your five-a-day but remember that fruits and vegetables are pieces in a much larger lifestyle jigsaw. There are many things we can do to lower our chances of developing cancer such as not smoking, keeping a healthy weight, cutting down on alcohol, eating a healthy balanced diet, being physically active and staying safe in the sun."

So even though eating your five a day may not reduce the risk of cancer, it will make you healthier.