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Cancer incidence in Ireland—the possible role of diet, nutrition and lifestyle

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Abstract

Aim

This observational ecological study aims to compare Ireland’s age-specific cancer incidence rates (ASRs) with equivalent European and global data and to highlight possible dietary, nutritional and lifestyle contributors to cancer in Ireland.

Subjects and methods

Using the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s (IARC) GLOBOCAN database, Irish ASRs for all-site cancer and for “lifestyle-related” cancers such as those of the colo-rectum, oesophagus, breast, lung and prostate were compared with European and global incidence data. Irish dietary and nutrient intake data were reviewed and evaluated in the context of these cancer incidence data and in relation to the established dietary, nutritional, lifestyle and anthropometric predictors of increased cancer risk previously articulated in the literature.

Results

Incidence rates of colorectal, oesophageal, breast, lung, prostate and all-site cancer are higher in Ireland than in most other countries. National nutrition surveys in Ireland indicate that dietary, nutritional, lifestyle and anthropometric risk factors for cancer occur with high frequency in the Irish population. For example, low fruit and vegetable consumption, high red and processed meat intake, low fish intake, low dairy consumption, high saturated fat intake, low folate and vitamin D intakes, and excessive alcohol consumption are all common amongst Irish adults.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that unfavourable diet and nutrient intakes prevail in Ireland and that these may contribute to Ireland’s excess cancer burden. These risk factors should be targeted by interventions seeking to sustainably redress Ireland’s high cancer incidence. Such initiatives may provide a template for intervention in other high-risk countries.

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Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel M. A. McCartney.

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Funding

No funding was received for the development of this study or for the preparation of this manuscript.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Research involving human participants and/or animals

This review article references five studies with human participants or animals performed by the authors:

One study undertaken by the lead author Daniel McCartney:

McCartney DM, Younger KM, Walsh J et al. (2013) Socio-economic differences in food group and nutrient intakes among young women in Ireland. Br J Nutr. 110:2084–97. doi: 10.1017/S0007114513001463).

All procedures involving human participants in this study were carried out in accordance with the ethical standards of the Dublin Institute of Technology Research Ethics Committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Formal ethical approval for this study was granted by the Dublin Institute of Technology Research Ethics Committee in 2005.

Four studies undertaken by co-author Marie Cantwell:

Brennan SF, Woodside JV, Lunny PM, Cardwell CR, Cantwell MM (2015) Dietary fat and breast cancer mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2015 Feb 18. [Epub ahead of print]—accessed 26th February 2016.

Murphy SJ, Anderson LA, Ferguson HR, Johnston BT, Watson PR, McGuigan J, Comber H, Reynolds JV, Murray LJ, Cantwell MM (2010) Dietary antioxidant and mineral intake in humans is associated with reduced risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma but not reflux esophagitis or Barrett’s esophagus. J Nutr. 140:1757–63.

O’Doherty MG, Cantwell MM, Murray LJ, Anderson LA, Abnet CC; FINBAR Study Group (2011) Dietary fat and meat intakes and risk of reflux esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Int J Cancer. 129:1493–502. doi: 10.1002/ijc.26108.

Sharp L, Carsin AE, Cantwell MM, Anderson LA, Murray LJ FINBAR Study Group (2013). Intakes of dietary folate and other B vitamins are associated with risks of esophageal adenocarcinoma, Barrett’s esophagus, and reflux esophagitis. J Nutr. 143:1966–73. doi: 10.3945/jn.113.174664.

All procedures involving human participants in these studies were carried out in accordance with the ethical standards of the Queens University Belfast Research Ethics Committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Formal ethical approval for these studies was granted by the Queens University Belfast Research Ethics Committee.

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McCartney, D.M.A., Byrne, D.G., Cantwell, M.M. et al. Cancer incidence in Ireland—the possible role of diet, nutrition and lifestyle. J Public Health 25, 197–213 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-016-0769-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-016-0769-9

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