The findings, derived from data in the landmark BWH-based Nurses Health Study, were published in the Jan. 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Certainly other research has found there are health benefits to consuming dietary fiber for conditions such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, and certain types of diabetes. Similarly, no evidence of an inverse association between fiber and colorectal cancer was witnessed in any subgroup defined by such factors as age, family history, other dietary patterns, or lifestyle. In an accompanying editorial, John Potter, M.D., Ph.D., of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, speculates on why the results of this study seem to diverge from those of previous studies. One reason might be differences in the way that dietary fiber intake is measured, he suggests.
Potter also points to some of the uncertainties inherent in epidemiological research.
If participants do not fully represent people in the general population, the results of the study may not be broadly applicable. Researches say the study s results underscore the importance of early detection and screening for colo-rectal cancer. It is the longest-running major women s health study ever undertaken and has resulted in hundreds of journal articles, many containing groundbreaking findings on how to prevent some of the major causes of disease and death in women.