The EPIC Project: Rationale and Study Design

Mini Assignment 6 Questions OHTH 2159

The EPIC Project: Rationale and Study Design

(Riboli & Kaaks, Int J Epid, 1997)

Consistent results of epidemiological studies show diets rich in vegetables’ and fruits are associated with reduced risk of cancer at several anatomical sites. Less consistent is the putative increase in risk related to consumption of fat or meat. There has been no clear biological role of specific nutrients or non-nutrient food components in the prevention or causation of cancer. The limitation in this research has been due to limited biomarkers of cancers combined with narrow ranges in dietary habits within single populations. Hence the EPIC prospective cohort study was designed to investigate the relationship between diet, nutritional and metabolic characteristics, and various lifestyle factors and cancers. The EPIC study is based in 22 collaborating centres in nine European countries characterized by large variations in dietary habits and cancer risk.

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Questions to be submitted:

Research on nutrition and cancer has developed substantially over the past 20 years. The epidemiological studies suggest that variations in cancer incidence could be related to differences in diet and lifestyle. List the dietary factors and the types of cancers that have a beneficial association. Also list the types of antioxidants that may reduce the risk of cancer.

What is the EPIC study.

Identify a) types of questionnaires used (Abstract & Page S11), b) anthropometric measures (Page S11), c) what temperature were blood samples stored at? (Page S12) and d) what 4 fractions were blood samples as? (Page S12).

a)What 9 countries are involved in the EPIC study? (Page S9) and b) how many subjects were proposed for testing in the EPIC Study? (Page S9).

How is subject follow-up conducted in regard to cancer type and frequencies in the EPIC Study? (Page S13, Conclusion)