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Veggie diet can reduce colorectal cancer risk rate (in some Christians): Study

Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA)-published research has found vegetarian Seventh-day Adventist men and women have a lower risk of developing colorectal cancer than meat eating folks from the same religion.

The ongoing study that began in 2002 found vegetarians had a 22% lower risk for all colorectal cancers than carnivores (19% lower risk for colon cancer; 29% lower risk for rectal cancer).

Vegans had a 16% lower risk of colorectal cancer; there was an 18% lower risk for lacto-ovo (eat milk and eggs) vegetarians; 43% less for pesco-vegetarians (eat fish); and 8% less in semi-vegetarians (eat some meat), according to the Loma Linda University Health study.

However the overall cancer cases were low given the sample of nearly 78,000 Seventh-day Adventists. From that sample there were 380 cases of colon cancer and 110 cases of rectal cancer.

Source:

JAMA Intern Med.

Published online March 09, 2015. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.59

‘Vegetarian Dietary Patterns and the Risk of Colorectal Cancers’

Authors: Orlich MJ, Singh PN, Sabaté J, et al.