As meat and fat consumption increase the rates of stomach cancer decrease

This study was published in Cancer Research 1975 Nov;35(11 Pt. 2):3460-3

Study title and author:

Epidemiology of cancer of the stomach with special reference to its recent decrease in Japan.

Hirayama T.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1192411

Hirayama notes that in Japan death rates for stomach cancer have been declining. The study investigated the connection between the decreased death rates and stomach cancer.

Over an 18 year period male stomach cancer death rate have fallen by:
25%  in the age group 40 to 44
34% in the age group 45 to 49,
35% in the age group 50 t0 54
30% in the age group 55 to 59
30% in the age group 60 to 64
19% in the age group 65 to 69

Over the same period female death rates have also fallen. Their rates are:
25%  in the age group 40 to 44
22% in the age group 45 to 49,
30% in the age group 50 t0 54
31% in the age group 55 to 59
28% in the age group 60 to 64
30% in the age group 65 to 69

Hiramaya found the following changes in food consumption:
(a) Carbohydrate consumption decreased by 14%.
(b) Rice consumption decreased by 19%.
(c) Potato consumption decreased by 56%.
(d) Fat consumption increased by 126%.
(e) Egg consumption increased by 1191%
(f) Meat consumption increased by 1269%.

This study found that as carbohydrate consumption declined and meat and fat consumption increased the rates of stomach cancer decreased.

Links to other studies:
Eating red meat helps to reduce the risk of colon cancer by 29%
Women who eat high quantities of meat have less incidence of breast cancer
High amounts of dietary red meat, eggs and fat are associated with decreased rates of pancreatic cancer