title: Cancer incidence attributable to insufficient fruit and vegetable consumption in Alberta in 2012.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sufficient fruit and vegetable consumption (≥ 5 servings/d) has been associated with a probable decreased risk for cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, stomach and lung (fruit only). The purpose of this study was to estimate the proportion and absolute number of cancer cases in Alberta in 2012 that were attributable to insufficient fruit and vegetable consumption.
  
  
  METHODS
  The numbers and proportions of cancers attributable to insufficient fruit and vegetable consumption were estimated using the population attributable risk. Relative risks were obtained from international collaborative panels and peer-reviewed literature. Prevalence data for insufficient fruit and vegetable consumption in Alberta were obtained from the Canadian Community Health Survey (2003, 2004, 2005, 2007/08). Age-, site- and sex-specific cancer incidence data for 2012 were obtained from the Alberta Cancer Registry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of men consuming 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day ranged from 25.9%-30.4% across age groups; the range among women was 46.8%-51.5% across age groups. The proportion of cancers attributable to insufficient fruit and vegetable consumption in Alberta was highest for esophageal cancer (40.0%) and lowest for lung cancer (3.3%). Overall, 290 cancer cases (1.8%) in Alberta in 2012 were attributable to insufficient fruit and vegetable consumption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Almost 2% of cancers in Alberta can be attributed to insufficient fruit and vegetable consumption. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables has benefits for the prevention of cancer and other chronic diseases; thus, increasing the proportion of Albertans who meet cancer prevention guidelines for fruit and vegetable consumption is a priority.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research (Grundy, Poirier, Khandwala, McFadden, Friedenreich, Brenner), CancerControl Alberta, Alberta Health Services; Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine (Friedenreich, Brenner), University of Calgary; Department of Community Health Sciences (Friedenreich, Brenner), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grundy
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research (Grundy, Poirier, Khandwala, McFadden, Friedenreich, Brenner), CancerControl Alberta, Alberta Health Services; Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine (Friedenreich, Brenner), University of Calgary; Department of Community Health Sciences (Friedenreich, Brenner), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.
authors.forename: Abbey E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Poirier
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research (Grundy, Poirier, Khandwala, McFadden, Friedenreich, Brenner), CancerControl Alberta, Alberta Health Services; Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine (Friedenreich, Brenner), University of Calgary; Department of Community Health Sciences (Friedenreich, Brenner), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.
authors.forename: Farah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khandwala
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research (Grundy, Poirier, Khandwala, McFadden, Friedenreich, Brenner), CancerControl Alberta, Alberta Health Services; Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine (Friedenreich, Brenner), University of Calgary; Department of Community Health Sciences (Friedenreich, Brenner), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McFadden
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research (Grundy, Poirier, Khandwala, McFadden, Friedenreich, Brenner), CancerControl Alberta, Alberta Health Services; Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine (Friedenreich, Brenner), University of Calgary; Department of Community Health Sciences (Friedenreich, Brenner), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Friedenreich
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research (Grundy, Poirier, Khandwala, McFadden, Friedenreich, Brenner), CancerControl Alberta, Alberta Health Services; Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine (Friedenreich, Brenner), University of Calgary; Department of Community Health Sciences (Friedenreich, Brenner), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.
authors.forename: Darren R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Brenner