Selected Studies
Studies to date have led to the publication of hundreds of peer-reviewed papers.
NHS researchers have examined the effect of exposures like smoking, oral contraceptive use, alcohol consumption, and diet on disease risk.
| Breast Cancer | Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)/Stroke | Colon Cancer | Hip Fracture | Cognitive Functioning | Eye Disease | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smoking | No relation with past or current smoking | Strong positive association with CHD and stroke; risk reduced within 2-4 years of smoking cessation. | Increases risk of colon cancer | Increases risk of hip fracture for current smokers. Risk increases with greater number of cigarettes smoked per day. | Not examined. | Increases risk of cataracts and “wet” AMD (the most severe form of Age-related Macular Degeneration). |
| Oral Contraceptives | Current use increases risk. Past use no association. | Current use increases risk. Past use no association. | Reduces risk of colon cancer. | Not examined. | Not examined. | Reduces risk of “wet” AMD. |
| Alcohol | One or more drinks per day increases risk. | Moderate alcohol intake reduces the risk of CHD. | Two or more drinks per day increases risk. | High consumption increases the risk of hip fracture. However, low or moderate consumption is associated with greater bone density. | Moderate intake (½ –1 serving per day) reduces risk of cognitive impairment. | No relation to age related eye diseases. |
| Diet | Higher intake of red meat increases risk of premenopausal breast cancer. | A Mediterranean-type diet reduces risk of incident CHD and stroke. Fish intake reduces risk of stroke. Nut and wholegrain consumption reduces risk of CHD. Refined carbohydrates and trans fats increase risk. | Higher intakes of folate, vitamin B6, calcium and vitamin D reduces risk. High intake of red and processed meats increases risk. | Reduction of risk with calcium supplement use among women with low calcium diets; higher dietary calcium intake has no effect. Vitamin D intake reduces risk and retinol intake increases risk. | Higher vegetable intake, especially green leafy vegetables, reduces risk of cognitive impairment. | Some antioxidants reduce risk of cataracts and AMD. Higher intake of fish may reduce risk of cataracts and AMD. |
Read more about this topic: Nurses' Health Study
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