Eating Processed Meats Raises Stomach Cancer Risk -Swedish scientists

August 2, 2006

This article " Eating Processed Meats Raises Stomach Cancer Risk " - appeared

on today's Reuters News Service. -- Bonnie Knight, San Francisco

Full article:

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STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Eating more processed meats such as bacon, sausage and

smoked ham increases the risk of stomach cancer, Swedish scientists said on

Wednesday.

A review of 15 studies showed the risk of developing stomach cancer rose by

15 to 38 percent if consumption of processed meats increased by 30 grams (1

ounce) per day, the Karolinska Institute said in a statement.

Stomach cancer accounts for nearly one tenth of total deaths from cancer, the

institute said.

The research, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute,

collated studies covering 4,704 individuals between 1966 and 2006 and showed

" unequivocal " results, the institute said.

" Nobody had carried out this type of analysis into processed meats and

stomach cancer, " said Susanna Larsson, one of the authors of the study at the

institute.

" And our results from a mean value show very clearly that there is an

association between increased consumption of processed meat products and stomach

cancer. "

The institute said processed meats were often salted or smoked, or had

nitrates added to them, in order to extend their shelf-life which could be

connected to the increased risk of stomach cancer, the fourth most common type

of

cancer.

" We hope that further studies will clarify the interaction between the

consumption of processed meats and other factors, such as other dietary factors

and the effects of different bacteria on the incidence of stomach cancer, "

Larsson said.

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