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# Vegetarian diet linked to lower cancer risk
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/vegetarian_diet_linked_to_lower_cancer_risk_06161402137/
- Published: 2014-06-16T14:36:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:44:58.000Z
- Description: Among 61,647 British adults followed 15 years, cancer struck 10.1 percent of meat eaters, 6.0 percent of fish eaters and 5.9 percent of vegetarians. Vegetarians had 63 percent less stomach cancer and 77 percent less multiple myeloma; overall risk was 12 percent lower for both groups.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Diet, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

Monday June 16, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- Previous studies suggest that vegetarian diet might lower the risk of cancer. A new study in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition confirms that vegetarian diet and diet rich in fish are associated with reduced risk of various cancers.

The study reveals cancer incidence in vegetarians and non-vegetarians in a large sample population in the United Kingdom. Data used for the study came from two prospective studies including 61,647 British men and women among whom 32,491 were identified as meat eaters, 8,612 fish eaters, and 20,544 vegetarians (2,246 vegans).

During a 15-year follow-up, 4,998 cases of cancer were identified with 3,275 meat eaters, 520 fish eaters and 1,203 vegetarians, which mean that 10.1% of meat eaters developed cancer compared to 6.0% fish eaters and 5.9% vegetarians.

Specifically, compared with meat eaters, fish eaters and vegetarians were 38% and 63% less likely, respectively, to develop stomach cancer. For colorectal cancer, fish eaters were at 34% reduced risk while vegetarians were as a similar risk to that of meat eaters.

Fisher eaters were at a similar risk for cancers of the lymphatic and hematopoietic tissue to that of meat eaters while vegetarians had their risk reduced by 36%.

Multiple myeloma was found 23% and 77% reduced in fish eaters and vegetarians, respectively, compared with meat eaters.

With all sites combined, the overall cancer risk was 12% lower for fish eaters and 12% lower for vegetarians, compared with that of meat eaters.

Previous studies suggest that to maximally reducing the cancer risk, one may be better off following a vegan diet.

Vegetarian diet has been linked to lower risk for high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in prior research.

The study concluded "In this British population, the risk of some cancers is lower in fish eaters and vegetarians than in meat eaters."

It should be noted that the effect of dietary patterns on cancer risk should vary by region or country even though it is true that a plant-based diet is associated with reduced risk of all cancers. (david Liu, PHD)

Key TJ, Appleby PN, Crowe FL, Bradbury KE, Schmidt JA, Travis RC. Cancer in British vegetarians: updated analyses of 4998 incident cancers in a cohort of 32,491 meat eaters, 8612 fish eaters, 18,298 vegetarians, and 2246 vegans. Am J Clin Nutr. 2014 Jun 4\. pii: ajcn.071266.