Study Finds Associations Between Vegetarian Diet and Risks of Certain Cancers

In Brief

A study reports associations between vegetarian diets and lower risk of five cancers, and higher risk of one esophageal cancer type.

Key Facts

• The study found vegetarians had a 21% lower risk of pancreatic cancer compared to meat eaters
• According to the study, prostate cancer risk was 12% lower among vegetarians
• The study reported a 9% reduced risk of breast cancer in vegetarians
• Vegetarian diets were associated with up to a 30% reduced risk of five cancer types combined, according to the research
• The study also found vegetarians had a doubled risk of developing the most common type of esophageal cancer

What Happened

A study analyzing data from over 1.8 million people tracked over several years reported associations between vegetarian diets and substantially lower risks of pancreatic, prostate, breast, kidney, and multiple myeloma cancers. The research also identified a doubled risk of the most common esophageal cancer type among vegetarians, according to the study authors.

Why It Matters

These findings provide data on possible links between dietary patterns and cancer risks, which may inform further research and public health discussions. The increased risk of esophageal cancer noted in the study indicates the need for additional investigation to understand potential factors involved. All reported associations are based on observational data and do not establish causation. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and understand underlying mechanisms.