RELATION BETWEEN FAT INTAKE AND MORTALITY - AN ECOLOGICAL ANALYSIS INBELGIUM

A representative sample of the Belgian population, aged 25-74 years, w as interviewed between 1980 and 1985. Dietary habits were assessed usi ng a 24 h food record method, Age-, sex-and district-specific energy-a djusted averages of macronutrient intakes were compared with mortality rates from 1988-90, with special emphasis on the association between fat intake and cancer mortality, Univariate analyses were followed by multiple linear regression analyses, controlling for possible confound ers such as fibre intake, smoking and educational level, Zn multivaria te analyses, significant positive associations were found between all- causes mortality and saturated fat intake in men, and between all-caus es mortality and the ratio of n-3 to n-6 fatty acids in men; colorecta l cancer mortality was associated with polyunsaturated fat intake and with the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fat in men, Significant neg ative associations were found between all-causes mortality and polyuns aturated fat intake in men, and between all-causes mortality and the r atio of unsaturated to saturated fat in men; colorectal cancer mortali ty was associated with saturated fat intake in men, In women, only bre ast cancer mortality was associated with saturated and monounsaturated fat intake, Prostate cancer mortality was not related to any of the s tudied dietary fat components, For total cancer mortality, only weak n on-significant associations with fat intake were found.