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Towards refining WCRF/AICR cancer prevention recommendations for red and processed meat intake: Insights from Alberta's Tomorrow Project cohort
British Journal of Nutrition
  • Ala Al Rajabi, Zayed University
  • Geraldine Lo Siou, Alberta Health Services
  • Alianu K. Akawung, Alberta Health Services
  • Kathryn L. McDonald, Alberta Health Services
  • Tiffany R. Price, Alberta Health Services
  • Grace Shen-Tu, Alberta Health Services
  • Paula J. Robson, Alberta Health Services
  • Paul J. Veugelers, University of Alberta
  • Katerina Maximova, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2021
Abstract

Current cancer prevention recommendations advise limiting red meat intake to <500g/week and avoiding consumption of processed meat, but do not differentiate the source of processed meat. We examined the associations of processed meat derived from red vs. non-red meats with cancer risk in a prospective cohort of 26,218 adults who reported dietary intake using the Canadian Diet History Questionnaire. Incidence of cancer was obtained through data linkage with Alberta Cancer Registry with median (IQR) follow-up of 13.3 (5.1) years. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were adjusted for covariates and stratified by age and gender. The median (IQR) consumption (g/week) of red meat, processed meat from red meat and processed meat from non-red meat were 267.9 (269.9), 53.6 (83.3), and 11.9 (31.8), respectively. High intakes (4th Quartile) of processed meat from red meat was associated with increased risk of gastro-intestinal cancer Adjusted Hazard Ratio (AHR) (95% CI): 1.68 (1.09-2.57) and colorectal cancers AHR (95% CI): 1.90 (1.12-3.22), respectively in women. No statistically significant associations were observed for intakes of red meat or processed meat from non-red meat. Results suggests that the carcinogenic effect associated with processed meat intake may be limited to processed meat derived from red meats. The findings provide preliminary evidence toward refining cancer prevention recommendations for red and processed meat intake.

Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Keywords
  • Alberta's Tomorrow Project,
  • cancer incidence,
  • cancer prevention recommendations,
  • dietary intakes,
  • processed meat,
  • red meat
Scopus ID

85103978423

Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International
Indexed in Scopus
Yes
Open Access
Yes
Open Access Type
Hybrid: This publication is openly available in a subscription-based journal/series
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114521001240
Citation Information
Ala Al Rajabi, Geraldine Lo Siou, Alianu K. Akawung, Kathryn L. McDonald, et al.. "Towards refining WCRF/AICR cancer prevention recommendations for red and processed meat intake: Insights from Alberta's Tomorrow Project cohort" British Journal of Nutrition (2021) ISSN: <p><a href="https://v2.sherpa.ac.uk/id/publication/issn/0007-1145" target="_blank">0007-1145</a></p>
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/ala-rajabi/3/