the China Project
The China Project is the most comprehensive epidemiological study ever undertaken on the links between diet and disease. This is an ongoing joint venture between Oxford and Cornell Universities which started in 1983.

The study protocols and data sheets linked below are updated as the study continues. The data can be downloaded and interrogated in a stats program or spreadsheet. It provides ongoing opportunities for study and research. A number of papers are already written drawing on the data.

The results show significant health benefits from eating less animal products, including fish, even for people eating very little animal products.

the China Study
The China Project is popularised in “The “China Study “co-authored by one of the principal researchers. Drawing on the extensive data from the China Project and other research the authors outline the epidemiological and physiological evidence for the links between the consumption of animal products and diseases including cancers, diabetes, osteoporosis, cardiac and autoimmune diseases. Particularly in the USA where the rate of diseases of affluence is the highest in the world.

They estimate that the consumption of animal products is a very much higher risk factor for cancer than environmental (carcinogens) or genetic influences.

Autoimmune diseases are increasing rapidly in industrialised countries. Sufferers typically experience more than one. For example arthritis, Lou Gehrig's Disease(ALS), Crohn's, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, fibromyalgia, systemic lupus, scleroderma, Type1 diabetes, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome(CFS) and endometriosis. Most of these diseases are significantly associated with presence of dairy protein antibodies. Withdrawal of dairy products from the diet often brings improvement.

disinformation campaigns
Insulting commentaries on this and similar research are run by websites sympathetic to the meat and dairy industries. They are difficult to read, rambling, disjointed and often contain technical word soup. They misrepresent the methods and results of the research they quote. Most of their assertions are either wrong or trivial. Although they do not make much sense they cast doubt, sow confusion and sidetrack the diet debate. One of the persistent claims about the China Study is that the data is not published.

This is reminiscent of the early days of the tobacco, GM and anti global-warming lobbies. This campaign has also had some success as you can see if you search the internet for “The China Study.”

It is only possible to evaluate food claims by reading the original research and cross checking references and commentary against independent sources. And looking around to see if they make sense.

osteoporosis
A more well known campaign is the one that promotes dairy products for calcium to build bone and prevent osteoporosis despite calcium and the other minerals needed for bone formation being abundant in other foods.

Osteoporosis is at low levels in countries that don't use dairy products. The epidemic of osteoporosis in western countries has been known for decades to be associated with the increased acidity of blood induced by high intake of animal products, particularly dairy. Minerals are leached out of the system which mines bone to replace them.

copyright (C) John Brasted 2008
updated 06/11/11

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