The Link Between Fruit, Vegetables and Health - Colorectal Cancer

Data for this page is taken from reference 6.

Studies that tracked migration of ethnically homogeneous groups showed differences in colorectal cancer incidence as they moved around the globe and their lifestyle changed. Initially, it was thought that increased vegetable consumption (but not fruit consumption) provided a protective effect. However, several recent studies, including the Nurses Health Study and Health Professionals Followup Study (both large, well designed cohort studies) showed no association between fruit and vegetable consumption and cancer risk (J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 92, p1740, 2000).

The study in reference 6 was designed to provide additional information. It followed 45,490 women for a period of 8.5 years (average). Vegetable and fruit intake was divided into quintiles. The Relative Risk for those who consumed the highest quantities (5th quintile) was 1.09 (0.86 to 1.53 at the 95% confidence level) for fruit, and 0.95 (0.71 to 1.26 at the 95% confidence level) for vegetables. These results again confirm that vegetable consumption has no significant effect on colon cancer.