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Cooked carbs linked with cancer4 December 2007
Dr Lesley Walker, Director of Cancer Information at Cancer Research UK
A chemical found in carbohydrate-rich foods may increase postmenopausal women's risk of cancer, according to a new study. Acrylamide is produced when carbohydrate-rich foods are heated to high temperatures (such as when they are fried or roasted). This may be found in high enough levels to increase the risk of ovarian and endometrial (womb) cancers. The study, carried out in The Netherlands, questioned over 62,000 women aged 55 to 69 about their diet. They were also tracked on a national register to see if they developed endometrial, ovarian or breast cancer over an 11 year period. A smaller group of about 2,500 women were randomly selected and asked to complete questionnaires to assess how much high carbohydrate food, such as chips and crisps, they consumed. The researchers found a link between what the women in the study ate and their risk of developing cancer. They concluded that those with a higher intake of acrylamide were more likely to develop endometrial and ovarian cancer, although there was no association found with breast cancer. Dr Lesley Walker, Director of Cancer Information at Cancer Research UK, told the health information team: "Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explain why high consumption of foods that contain acrylamide is associated with these cancers and not others, for example breast cancer." Dr Walker also outlined that acrylamide levels are highest in carbohydrate containing foods such as chips and crisps, but said that "other factors need to be firmly ruled out" before the link can be confirmed. She added: "Women shouldn't be unduly worried by this news. It's not easy to separate out one component of the diet from all the others when studying the complex diets of ordinary people." "The best dietary advice for reducing your risk of cancer is to eat a balanced diet, rich in fruit and vegetables and fibre, and low in fat." The Food Standards Agency also advises that people should not change their diets because of concern about acrylamide, but should eat a balanced, healthy diet. Related information
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Women shouldn't be unduly worried by this news. 
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