Dear Editor:
Your article "Prostate cancer linked to diet high in meat, dairy products" (11/5) is off-base factually and unduly alarmist.
Based on a new study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, medical writer Thomas Maugh wrote "Men who eat the most meat and dairy products are the most likely to die from prostate cancer..." But Maugh, apparently, did not read the study.
The researchers acknowledge the study is only "hypothesis-generating" -- scientist-speak for "a rough idea for future research." The study is not scientifically capable of linking diet with prostate cancer since no individuals were studied. The study simply compared crude population data on dietary patterns and prostate cancer mortality for a number of countries. It is basic science that "correlation does not equal causation." The study also did not examine the myriad of other factors that could cause prostate cancer.
The study authors acknowledge quite clearly that the reported association between meat intake and prostate cancer could be confounded (or confused) by total energy intake. They state "... it is not clear if energy intake per se or if the intake of energy-dense foods, such as animal products, is associated with prostate cancer."
Science reporting should be based on what the actual science says, rather than what sort of alarming headline can be generated.
Steven J. Milloy
Publisher, Junk Science Home Page
www.junkscience.com
Comments on this posting?
Click here to post a public comment on the Trash Talk Bulletin Board.
Click here to send a private comment to the Junkman.
Copyright © 1998 Steven J. Milloy. All rights reserved on original material. Material copyrighted by others is used either with permission or under a claim of "fair use." Site developed and hosted by WestLake Solutions, Inc.
Material presented on this home page constitutes opinion of Steven J. Milloy.