Vegetarians have ‘substantially lower risk’ of five types of cancer

A large study analyzing data from over 1.8 million people found that vegetarians have a significantly lower risk of several cancers. Published in the British Journal of Cancer, the research indicated a reduced risk of pancreatic, prostate, breast, kidney cancer, and multiple myeloma among vegetarians. However, the study also revealed that vegetarians had a higher risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus, potentially due to nutrient deficiencies. Vegans showed an elevated risk of bowel cancer, possibly linked to lower calcium and nutrient intake. Researchers suggest further investigation is needed to determine whether the benefits are due to the absence of meat or specific components of vegetarian diets. The study, conducted by researchers including those at the University of Oxford, drew data from various diet and health studies worldwide.

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