Question

Tasmanian researchers conducted a case –control study to investigate the effect of dietary fat intake on skin cancer. They hypothesised that people whose dietary fat intake is low will be more susceptible to skin cancer. The study compared 500 cases of melanoma with 500 controls who were randomly selected from the state’s electoral roll. The researchers categorised the dietary fat intake into three categories High, Moderate and Low. They found that among skin cancer patients 150 were classified at the low and 80 at the high dietary fat intake whereas among control 130 were at the low and 100 were at the high. f) What do you think about the conclusions of the PAR regarding exposure to low fat diet to reduce melanoma? (no more than 3-4 sentences) [4 points}

Answer 1

The fat intake pattern was almost similar in control and patient ( skin cancer) population. Population with fat intake was comparable in both control and patient population and the values were almost similar. Population with low fat intake was 150 in patients versus 130 on controls, high fat intake population was 80 in patients versus 100 in controls and moderate fat intake population was 220 in patients versus 320 in controls.Thus, the hypothesis that low fat intake has association with skin cancer, is wrong.