CANCER, CARDIOVASCULAR MORTALITY, AND DIET IN ITALY AND THE CZECH-REPUBLIC

A descriptive study aimed at comparing mortality and dietary patterns in Italy and the Czech Republic was conducted in the period 1970-1990. Mortality from all causes, all cancers, selected site specific cancer s and cardiovascular diseases were found to be generally higher in the Czech Republic than in Italy. The North-South gradients observed with in Italy have diminished in the course of the last twenty years, mostl y due to a less contained decrease of the mortality from cardiovascula r diseases and to a marked increase in cancer mortality for Southern r egions compared to Central and Northern regions. The mediterranean die t with many health promoting, possibly protective components, mostly o f-vegetable origin, is consumed in most parts of Italy, particularly i n the South. In contrast, a Central European diet abounding in animal products and lacking in fresh fruit and vegetables is generally follow ed in the Czech Republic. These differences in diet may play a role in the origin of the observed differences in mortality patterns. Some fa ctors other than diet, such as smoking habits, alcohol consumption, en dogenous factors, and occupation, that are not considered here, are kn own to be involved in the causation of some types of cancer. The resul ts of this study are compatible with the hypothesis of a relevant role played by dietary and other life-style habits in the etiopathogenesis of neoplastic and cardiovascular diseases.