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Childhood energy intake and adult cancer mortality

Nutrition Research Newsletter, June, 1998

Animal experiments have demonstrated a positive relationship between energy intake early in life and the later development of cancer. The existence of a similar relationship in humans is suggested by epidemiologic studies showing that tallness is a risk factor for some types of cancer. However, adult body size is an imperfect marker for childhood dietary intake.

Researchers at the University of Bristol used the British National Health Service register to obtain mortality data for 3834 people who had taken part, as children aged 16 years and younger, in a family diet and health survey they conducted in 1937-39 (die Boyd Orr Cohort). In that early survey, standardized methods had been used to measure household dietary intake during a one-week period.

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After the confounding effects of social variables were taken into account, significant positive associations were found between childhood energy intake and cancer mortality. This effect was limited to cancers not related to smoking and was similar in men and in women.

The findings of this study indicate that childhood diet may have an important long-term impact on cancer risk. It is possible that some of the unfavorable trends recently observed in the incidence of some types of cancer may be related to earlier changes in childhood eating habits. If the association demonstrated here is confirmed, it may have important implications for future recommendations on childhood nutrition.

Stephen Frankel, David J. Gunnell, Tim J. Peters, Maria Maynard, and George Davey Smith, Childhood Energy Intake and Adult Mortality from Cancer: The Boyd Orr Cohort Study, BMJ 316(7130):499-504 (Feb 14, 1998) [Correspondence: Professor Stephen Frankel, Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PR, UK Internet. stephen.frankel@bristol.ac.uk]

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Childhood energy intake and adult cancer mortality

Nutrition Research Newsletter, June, 1998

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