Cutting Salt In Diet Could Prevent Stomach Cancer Cases

Lifestyle and cancer statistics compiled by World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) show that average daily salt consumption is 8.6g – 2.6g, or 43 per cent, above the recommended daily amount.

27 Jul 2012 --- One in seven cases of stomach cancer in the UK could be prevented if everyone cut their salt intake to the recommended daily maximum of six grams – a level teaspoon’s worth.

Lifestyle and cancer statistics compiled by World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) show that average daily salt consumption is 8.6g – 2.6g, or 43 per cent, above the recommended daily amount.

The charity is calling for a standardised ‘traffic light’ system on the front of food and drink packaging to tackle high levels of salt, fat and sugar consumption.

Scientists estimate that around 14 per cent of cases of stomach cancer could be avoided through reducing salt intake. Because stomach cancer is usually well advanced by the time it is diagnosed only about 15 per cent of patients survive for more than five years, making it the seventh most common cause of cancer death in the UK.

Kate Mendoza, Head of Health Information at WCRF, said: “Stomach cancer is difficult to treat successfully because most cases are not caught until the disease is well-established.

“This places even greater emphasis on making lifestyle choices to prevent the disease occurring in the first place – such as cutting down on salt intake and eating more fruit and vegetables.”

She added: “Because around three-quarters of the salt we consume is already in processed food when we buy it, WCRF would like to see traffic light labelling on the front of food and drink packaging to give clear guidance on the levels of salt as well as sugar, fat and saturated fat.

“Standardised labelling among retailers and manufacturers – rather than the different voluntary systems currently in place – would help consumers make better informed and healthy choices.”

In 2009 there were 7,500 new cases of stomach cancer diagnosed in the UK. By cutting salt intake to 6g a day, 1,050 of these cases could have been prevented. In 2010, there were 4,966 deaths from the disease.

Salt is linked to high blood pressure, the main cause of strokes and a significant cause of heart disease. It is also connected to osteoporosis and kidney disease.

•    Salt intake statistics are taken from Food Standard Agency 2008: assessment of dietary sodium levels among adults (aged 19-64) in the general UK population.
•    Figures for cancer incidence are taken from ONS Cancer incidence and mortality in the UK, 2007-2009, Public Health Wales Cancer Incidence in Wales 2005-2009, ISD Scotland Cancer Statistics and the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry.
•    Since 2000/01 there has been a significant downward trend in the levels of salt consumption in the UK – from an average 9.5g per day in 2000/01 to 8.6g in 2008.
•    It is estimated that around half of the UK’s cases of stomach cancer could be prevented through not smoking, reducing salt consumption and eating healthily.