It's a belief that people who have high-fiber diets lessen their chances of colorectal cancer compared to the ones who don't. However, a new research by scientists has found that the fiber might not be exactly responsible for lowering the chances of cancer.
Studies carried out by researchers did reveal that the chances of colorectal cancers were reduced by 16% amongst those with the highest fiber intake when compared with the ones having the least. However, the scientists are of the view that this has got to do more with the lifestyle of a person combined with their fiber consumption habit. Among the fiber eaters, ones who do not smoke or smoke less, exercise frequently and eat more fruits and vegetables are likely to be better equipped to fight colorectal cancer.
All these factors were evaluated by the researchers and it was concluded that individual role of fiber in fighting cancer is minimal.
The investigating team belonging to the Harvard School of Public Health and associated organizations combined 13 earlier researches which included data relating to 7, 25,000 men and women between 6 and 20 years among whom over 8,000 colon cancers cases were detected.
This is the third major research in the last six years to have raised eye brows regarding claims by health advocacy groups who firmly rate fiber as a major factor in colon cancer prevention.
However, we definitely haven't heard the last on this issue. A research conducted on half a million people for over ten years by European scientists managed to find an association between high-fiber diets and its impact on lessening the chances of colorectal cancer.
According to Yikyung Park, an epidemiologist at the National Cancer Institute, ones with good fiber consumption are likely to have a healthy life and a balanced diet, which in turn reduces the chances of colon cancer. Even he agrees though that in depth research is needed on the matter, specifically the kind of fibers people eat and the sources of fiber.
The report has found its way into the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Colorectal cancer (derived from colon and rectum) is the country's second-largest cancer killing disease, next only to lung cancer. Last year close to 56,000 people lost their lives to this dreaded form of cancer.
