A new study shows that a diet high in fiber does not reduce the risk of developing colon cancer. Despite these findings, the authors of the study recommend a high fiber diet anyway for the overall health benefits it provides. The results of the study were published in the most recent edition of the 'Journal of the American Medical Association.'
The study, led by Stephanie Smith-Warner of the Harvard School of Public Health, examined 13 previous studies that included health information on 725,000 men and women. 8,000 of the people in the studies developed colon cancer according to the findings.
'Specifically, we found that men and women who ate at least 30 grams (1.1 ounce) of fiber a day had the same risk of colorectal (colon) cancer as men and women who ate 10 to 15 grams (0.4 to 0.5 ounce) of fiber a day,' concluded Smith-Warner.
Eating a high fiber diet did reduce the risk of rectal cancer, the study found. Previous studies have found that consuming foods high in fiber can also reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Approximately 145,000 new cases of colon cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States. Roughly 56,000 people die each year from the disease, making it the second most deadly cancer in this country behind lung cancer.
