RESPONSE: Re: Meat, Fish, and Colorectal Cancer Risk: The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition

Abstract

Batty suggests that our findings of a positive association between high intake of red and processed meat and colorectal cancer risk might be the result of confounding by socioeconomic position. In our study population, meat intake is inversely associated with educational attainment ( 1 ) , an indicator of socioeconomic position. The relative risks of colorectal cancer associated to secondary school, professional school, and university compared with primary school or less were 1.00, 1.12, and 1.02, respectively, indicating that colorectal cancer risk does not vary by educational attainment in this population. It is therefore not surprising that adjustment for educational attainment did not modify the relationship of red meat, processed meat, and fish with colorectal cancer risk. We have previously shown that the inverse association of colorectal cancer risk with fiber intake persisted after adjustment for this indicator of socioeconomic status ( 2 ) .