If the Helicobacter pylori bacterium is found in the stomach, the risk of stomach cancer for persons with a high intake of meat increases fivefold. This is the result of a data evaluation within EPIC, a study including about half a million participants in the whole of Europe.

Study participants from ten European countries have been questioned about their dietary habits and lifestyles within the framework of the EPIC study (European Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition) since 1992. These data are studied in relation to the incidence of new cancer cases among participants. In Germany, there are two EPIC study centers: the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) in Heidelberg and the German Institute of Human Nutrition (Deutsches Institut f?r Ern?hrungsforschung, DifE) in Potsdam-Rehbruecke.

Under the leadership of the Spanish EPIC study center in Barcelona, the EPIC epidemiologists have published an evaluation of data on meat intake and stomach cancer. They separately analyzed cancers of the stomach and of the cardia. The analysis is based on 330 cases that have been newly diagnosed among participants since the study was started.

Per 100 grams of daily meat and processed meat intake, the scientists calculated a risk elevation for stomach cancer (non-cardia) of 252 percent. A separate study of those patients with detected Helicobacter pylori infections showed the values even more clearly: In infected persons, 100 grams of meat and processed meat per day increase the stomach cancer risk about fivefold (432 percent). For non-infected persons, no significant relationship between meat consumption and stomach cancer was found. Neither was an association found between meat intake and cancers of the cardia. According to the current state of knowledge, there is also no association between cardia stomach cancer and H. pylori infections. The intake of poultry has no effect on stomach cancer risk.

The biological reasons why meat is a cofactor in the development of stomach cancer by Helicobacter have yet to be finally identified. "Meat is an important source of iron - Helicobacter, in turn, needs a sufficient supply of iron. In addition, heme-iron promotes the formation of carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds such as nitrosamines. Cured products also contain a lot of salt and nitrite. It is possible that it is the combination of several factors that promotes a chronic inflammation process and, thus, increases the risk of cancer," says PD Dr. Jakob Linseisen, director of the EPIC study center at the DKFZ, summarizing current discussions.

Stomach cancer is the second most frequent cause of cancer death worldwide. In Germany, the number of new cases has declined in recent years (2002: 19,700). Nevertheless, at 11,844 deaths in 2003, stomach cancer still ranges fourth (in men) and sixth (in women) as a cause of cancer death.

About the DEUTSCHES KREBSFORSCHUNGSZENTRUM

The Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ) Heidelberg was founded as a non-profit organization and supraregional research center by the Land (state) Baden-Wuerttemberg in 1964. It was constituted as a foundation of public law. Since 1975, it has been a Gro?forschungseinrichtung (National Research Center). It is mainly funded by the Bundesforschungsministerium (Federal Ministry for Research and Technology) (90 %) and by the Ministerium fuer Forschung und Wissenschaft (Ministry for Research and Sciences) of the Land Baden-Wuerttemberg (10 %). Additional funding is obtained by other public and private sources e.g. the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Science Association), special projects of the European Union (EU), of Federal and State ministries as well as cooperations with the industry and also private donations to the foundation. In accordance with its Statutes and Articles, it is the task of the Center to engage in cancer research. "Cancer research", a term which every discipline defines quite differently. In a center with a multi-disciplinary structure, the discussion about the research program is a continuous balancing process.

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