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Geographic Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer: The Role of Dietary Fat

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Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

The divergent views expressed by these two statements reflect the general lack of agreement as to the importance of dietary fat upon the induction and promotion of large bowel cancer. This chapter will summarize information in respect of the geographic distribution of large bowel cancer and will attempt to explain the basis of the controversial views concerning the impact of fat upon colorectal cancer risk. Special emphasis will be given to studies of indigenous and migrant Japanese because they are frequently cited as evidence that fat intake is a major risk factor for large bowel cancer.

It is well documented that Western style nutrition with a fat intake of approximately 40% of calories is associated with a higher risk of cancer of the breast, ovary and endometrium . . . and quite definitely with left sided colon cancer Weisburger (1986).

Our findings stress even more strongly that the effects of migration on cancer occurring are complex and that the Westernization of diet is a gross oversimplification: and by itself it provides an inadequate explanation for the gradients of cancer incidence in migrant populations Shimizu et al. (1987).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kuakini Medical Center, Japan-Hawaii Cancer Study, 347 N. Kuakini Street, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96817, USA

    G. N. Stemmermann

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  1. G. N. Stemmermann
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  1. Innere Medizin IV (Gastroenterologie), Medizinische Universitätsklinik, Bergheimer Straße 58, D-6900, Heidelberg 1, Germany

    Helmut Karl Seitz  & Ulrich A. Simanowski  & 

  2. Department of Histopathology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, W12 0HS, London, UK

    Nicholas A. Wright

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Stemmermann, G.N. (1989). Geographic Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer: The Role of Dietary Fat. In: Seitz, H.K., Simanowski, U.A., Wright, N.A. (eds) Colorectal Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-85930-4_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-85930-4_1

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