Comments on: Grilled meat on the BBQ may raise the risk of pancreatic cancer http://www.efitnessnow.com/news/2009/04/22/grilled-meat-on-the-bbq-may-raise-the-risk-of-pancreatic-cancer/ Your Health And Fitness Guide Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:52:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: kensgrill http://www.efitnessnow.com/news/2009/04/22/grilled-meat-on-the-bbq-may-raise-the-risk-of-pancreatic-cancer/comment-page-1/#comment-19950 kensgrill Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:18:40 +0000 http://www.efitnessnow.com/?p=965#comment-19950 The science: It is true that when you burn any organic material it produces Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. Wood, charcoal, meat, fat, pretty much anything that has to do with barbecue. Some of these compounds do cause tumors in mice and rats when fed at extremely high doses. The most carcinogenic of these compounds is benzo(a)pyrene (BaP). When fed at artificially elevated dose rates of >40-45ppm/diet for about six months, a statistical difference in tumors from the control (healthy subjects not fed BaP) was noted when testing on mice. The reality: A typical well done quarter pound flame grilled burger contains upwards of .004ppm (tested quantity) for a total of 400 ng of BaP accounting for fat weight loss. This is 10,000 times less concentrated than what was fed to the mice. Let’s recreate the lab mice test using fire grilled hamburger containing .004ppm as the food and humans as the test subjects. If all you ate was 1 flame grilled burger per day for the duration of the test, it would have to weigh approximately 2,200 lbs. I don't think you would die of cancer from the benzo(a)pyrene. It is possible to find levels of BaP >.060ppm in meat by testing only the burnt part. This is 15 times greater than a typical burger. The science:
It is true that when you burn any organic material it produces Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. Wood, charcoal, meat, fat, pretty much anything that has to do with barbecue. Some of these compounds do cause tumors in mice and rats when fed at extremely high doses. The most carcinogenic of these compounds is benzo(a)pyrene (BaP). When fed at artificially elevated dose rates of >40-45ppm/diet for about six months, a statistical difference in tumors from the control (healthy subjects not fed BaP) was noted when testing on mice.

The reality:
A typical well done quarter pound flame grilled burger contains upwards of .004ppm (tested quantity) for a total of 400 ng of BaP accounting for fat weight loss. This is 10,000 times less concentrated than what was fed to the mice.

Let’s recreate the lab mice test using fire grilled hamburger containing .004ppm as the food and humans as the test subjects. If all you ate was 1 flame grilled burger per day for the duration of the test, it would have to weigh approximately 2,200 lbs. I don’t think you would die of cancer from the benzo(a)pyrene.

It is possible to find levels of BaP >.060ppm in meat by testing only the burnt part. This is 15 times greater than a typical burger.

]]> By: Tamara http://www.efitnessnow.com/news/2009/04/22/grilled-meat-on-the-bbq-may-raise-the-risk-of-pancreatic-cancer/comment-page-1/#comment-1450 Tamara Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:14:36 +0000 http://www.efitnessnow.com/?p=965#comment-1450 They did not specify if there was a difference in propane grilling vs charcoal grilling vs real wood. If they are truly going to "study" this, it would be interesting to know if there is a difference - and if it is just the charring, or the charring w/ charcoal that is causing the issues. They did not specify if there was a difference in propane grilling vs charcoal grilling vs real wood. If they are truly going to “study” this, it would be interesting to know if there is a difference - and if it is just the charring, or the charring w/ charcoal that is causing the issues.

]]> By: Duncan http://www.efitnessnow.com/news/2009/04/22/grilled-meat-on-the-bbq-may-raise-the-risk-of-pancreatic-cancer/comment-page-1/#comment-1447 Duncan Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:48:56 +0000 http://www.efitnessnow.com/?p=965#comment-1447 Carol's calculations are wrong. 208 out of 60000 is around 1/3 of 1 percent, not 4/1000 of 1 percent. Most of the other commenters seemed to miss the point of the study: it wasn't saying that eating beef was bad, it was saying that well done or charred beef was bad. Don't eat burned meat. Eat it medium or rare, and no risk was detected. Carol’s calculations are wrong. 208 out of 60000 is around 1/3 of 1 percent, not 4/1000 of 1 percent.

Most of the other commenters seemed to miss the point of the study: it wasn’t saying that eating beef was bad, it was saying that well done or charred beef was bad. Don’t eat burned meat. Eat it medium or rare, and no risk was detected.

]]> By: keith http://www.efitnessnow.com/news/2009/04/22/grilled-meat-on-the-bbq-may-raise-the-risk-of-pancreatic-cancer/comment-page-1/#comment-1446 keith Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:29:11 +0000 http://www.efitnessnow.com/?p=965#comment-1446 who paid for the study? who paid for the study?

]]> By: Carol Swaser http://www.efitnessnow.com/news/2009/04/22/grilled-meat-on-the-bbq-may-raise-the-risk-of-pancreatic-cancer/comment-page-1/#comment-1444 Carol Swaser Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:14:59 +0000 http://www.efitnessnow.com/?p=965#comment-1444 C'mon people. This "research" is so stupid. Out of more than 60,000 people only 208 got the specific type of cancer the researchers were looking for? That's less than 4 1,000ths of 1 percent. Plus, the average age of all the 60,000 people was 63. Go out and grab 60,000 63 year olds at random without knowing anything about what they eat and you're likely to get similar results. C’mon people. This “research” is so stupid. Out of more than 60,000 people only 208 got the specific type of cancer the researchers were looking for? That’s less than 4 1,000ths of 1 percent. Plus, the average age of all the 60,000 people was 63. Go out and grab 60,000 63 year olds at random without knowing anything about what they eat and you’re likely to get similar results.

]]> By: Janice http://www.efitnessnow.com/news/2009/04/22/grilled-meat-on-the-bbq-may-raise-the-risk-of-pancreatic-cancer/comment-page-1/#comment-1443 Janice Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:57:23 +0000 http://www.efitnessnow.com/?p=965#comment-1443 Some say you can protect yourself from 'free radicals' (cancer-causing by-product of burnt meat) by taking a daily multivitamin or eating some fresh garlic w/ that delicious steak. How's that sound? Garlic + Steak = win+win Some say you can protect yourself from ‘free radicals’ (cancer-causing by-product of burnt meat) by taking a daily multivitamin or eating some fresh garlic w/ that delicious steak. How’s that sound? Garlic + Steak = win+win

]]> By: Dave http://www.efitnessnow.com/news/2009/04/22/grilled-meat-on-the-bbq-may-raise-the-risk-of-pancreatic-cancer/comment-page-1/#comment-1442 Dave Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:50:41 +0000 http://www.efitnessnow.com/?p=965#comment-1442 The caveman I am sure had high cases of pancreatic cancer and hard arteries that is if he lived past the age of 35. I know a lot of "I make my living off livestock" and the "this is another vegan scam" will scream conspiracy, but meat is not the healthiest thing for you, taste great, but it will kill you quick. All things in moderation. The caveman I am sure had high cases of pancreatic cancer and hard arteries that is if he lived past the age of 35. I know a lot of “I make my living off livestock” and the “this is another vegan scam” will scream conspiracy, but meat is not the healthiest thing for you, taste great, but it will kill you quick. All things in moderation.

]]> By: Vegeterian http://www.efitnessnow.com/news/2009/04/22/grilled-meat-on-the-bbq-may-raise-the-risk-of-pancreatic-cancer/comment-page-1/#comment-1441 Vegeterian Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:50:13 +0000 http://www.efitnessnow.com/?p=965#comment-1441 All the antibiotics and hormones injected into animals do no harm but cooking on a grill on high flame would give you cancer.... All the antibiotics and hormones injected into animals do no harm but cooking on a grill on high flame would give you cancer….

]]> By: beefeater http://www.efitnessnow.com/news/2009/04/22/grilled-meat-on-the-bbq-may-raise-the-risk-of-pancreatic-cancer/comment-page-1/#comment-1440 beefeater Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:48:28 +0000 http://www.efitnessnow.com/?p=965#comment-1440 Beef! It's what's for dinner. Beef! It’s what’s for dinner.

]]> By: Eric http://www.efitnessnow.com/news/2009/04/22/grilled-meat-on-the-bbq-may-raise-the-risk-of-pancreatic-cancer/comment-page-1/#comment-1438 Eric Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:46:31 +0000 http://www.efitnessnow.com/?p=965#comment-1438 Seriously, is there anything that doesn't cause cancer? I'd rather enjoy my life than sit there worrying away my days in anxious fright over what might give me cancer next. Seriously, is there anything that doesn’t cause cancer? I’d rather enjoy my life than sit there worrying away my days in anxious fright over what might give me cancer next.

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