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Epidemiology of Dietary Fiber and Colorectal Cancer: Current Status of the Hypothesis

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Dietary Fiber

Abstract

Much of the evidence supporting a role for fiber in large bowel cancer rests on epidemiologic observations. The causative agent in human large bowel cancer, or the mechanisms by which fiber may protect against it, have never been firmly established. Current views on the promoting effects of fat are discussed in Chapters 34, 35, 36, and 37 of this volume, and Cummings has postulated mechanisms by which dietary fiber may protect against large bowel cancer (Cummings and Branch, 1982). The purpose of this chapter is to concentrate on the question of whether or not a reduced intake of dietary fiber, or “deficiency” of it, is associated with a higher risk of large bowel cancer, both in populations and individuals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dunn Clinical Nutrition Centre, University of Cambridge and MRC, Cambridge, CB2 1QL, UK

    Sheila A. Bingham

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  1. Sheila A. Bingham
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D.C, USA

    George V. Vahouny

  2. The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    David Kritchevsky

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© 1986 Plenum Press, New York

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Bingham, S.A. (1986). Epidemiology of Dietary Fiber and Colorectal Cancer: Current Status of the Hypothesis. In: Vahouny, G.V., Kritchevsky, D. (eds) Dietary Fiber. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2111-8_39

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2111-8_39

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9249-4

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