A diet rich in high-fibre cereal offers important protection against bowel cancer, according to EU cancer specialists. Further evidence suggests that it may also protect against breast cancer, according to an article in the current European Journal of Cancer Prevention.
Almost 2,000 incidences of bowel cancer are diagnosed in Ireland each year. It is the second most common cancer.
Agreement on the benefits of high-fibre cereal was reached at a recent meeting of the European Cancer Prevention Organisation (ECP). Over 20 leading cancer specialists evaluated current data. These included Prof Ian Rowland, of the Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance.
It is the first time that European scientific opinion has concluded overwhelmingly in favour of the role of cereal fibre, over other fibre sources, in bowel cancer prevention. It also recommended further examination of the relationship between cereal fibre intake and risk of other cancers.
The ECP chairman, Dr Mike Hill, from the UK, said the consensus was a significant advance in the battle against one of Europe's leading cancers. "We know a third of cancers are dietrelated and could potentially be prevented.
"We have always advised eating a diet rich in fruit and vegetables to reduce cancer risk. Following this evidence, we endorse adding a further recommendation to increase consumer intake of cereal fibre in order to prevent cancer," said Dr Hill.
The ECP is now overwhelmingly in favour of cereal fibre rather than fibre per se in bowel cancer prevention.
Bowel cancer is responsible for some 960 deaths each year in the State and 12 per cent of all cancer deaths. The ECP says breakfast is the easiest meal to incorporate a high proportion of cereal fibre. A bowl of wheatbran, wholegrain cereals, and wholemeal bread is one of the best ways of increasing intake of this type of dietary fibre. Increasing fibre intake should be done gradually and water intake increased.
The ECP was formed in 1981 to study the range of cancer incidence and exposure to numerous factors associated with increased cancer risk in Europe.
Meanwhile, eating at least one fish meal per week may halve the risk of sudden cardiac death in men, according to an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
A study was carried out in a Boston hospital to investigate the association between fish consumption and the risk of sudden cardiac death (death within one hour of the onset of symptoms). Research found that eating fish at least once a week was associated with a 52 per cent lower risk of sudden death, compared with those eating fish less than once a month.