Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2015 Oct;39(5):422-8.
doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12449.

Cancers in Australia in 2010 attributable to inadequate consumption of fruit, non-starchy vegetables and dietary fibre

Christina M Nagle  1   2 , Louise F Wilson  1 , Maria Celia B Hughes  1 , Torukiri I Ibiebele  1 , Kyoko Miura  1 , Christopher J Bain  1   3 , David C Whiteman  1   2 , Penelope M Webb  1   2
Affiliations

Cancers in Australia in 2010 attributable to inadequate consumption of fruit, non-starchy vegetables and dietary fibre

Christina M Nagle et al. Aust N Z J Public Health. 2015 Oct.

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate the number and proportion of cancers occurring in Australia in 2010 attributable to consumption deficits in fruit, non-starchy vegetables and dietary fibre.

Methods: We estimated the population attributable fraction (PAF) for cancers causally associated with inadequate intake of fruit and non-starchy vegetables (oral cavity, pharynx, oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma, stomach, larynx); inadequate intake of fruit (lung); and insufficient intake of fibre (colorectum). We used standard formulae incorporating prevalence of exposure (1995 National Nutrition Survey) and relative risks from independent studies.

Results: Overall, 1,555 (1.4% of all) and 311 (0.3% of all) cancers were attributable to inadequate intakes of fruit and non-starchy vegetables, respectively. A further 2,609 colorectal cancers (18% of colorectal) were attributable to insufficient fibre intake. If Australians increased their fibre intake by eating the recommended daily intakes of fruit and vegetables, an estimated 1,293 (8.8%) colorectal cancers could be prevented.

Conclusions: One in six colorectal cancer cases was attributable to inadequate intake of dietary fibre and about 1,800 cancers at other sites were attributable to insufficient fruit and non-starchy vegetable consumption.

Implications: Increasing the proportion of Australians who consume the recommended intake of fruit, vegetables and fibre could prevent up to 4% of all cancers.

Keywords: cancer; diet; population attributable fraction; potential impact fraction; risk factor.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. World Cancer Research Fund. Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective. Washington (DC): American Institute for Cancer Research; 2007.
    1. World Cancer Research Fund. Continuous Update Project Report. Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Colorectal Cancer. Washington (DC): American Institute for Cancer Research; 2011.
    1. National Health and Medical Research Council. Australian Dietary Guidelines. Canberra (AUST): Commonwealth of Australia; 2013.
    1. National Health and Medical Research Council. Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand Including Recommended Dietary Intakes. Canberra (AUST): Commonwealth of Australia; 2006.
    1. Gibson TM, Ferrucci LM, Tangrea JA, Schatzkin A. Epidemiological and clinical studies of nutrition. Semin Oncol. 2010;37(3):282–96. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types