Vegetarian Diets Linked to Lower Cancer Risks

Groundbreaking study finds vegetarians have 'substantially lower' risk of five major cancer types

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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A large-scale study analyzing data from over 1.8 million individuals has revealed a significant association between vegetarian diets and reduced risk of several cancers, including pancreatic, prostate, breast, kidney, and multiple myeloma. The research, published in the British Journal of Cancer, found vegetarians had a 21% lower risk of pancreatic cancer, 12% lower risk of prostate cancer, and 9% lower risk of breast cancer compared to meat-eaters.

Why it matters

These findings are particularly impactful as the cancers studied collectively account for around a fifth of all cancer deaths in the UK. The study highlights the potential for plant-based diets to offer substantial protection against some of the most deadly forms of cancer.

The details

The study, led by Dr. Aurora Pérez-Cornago of the University of Oxford, also found vegetarians had a 28% lower risk of kidney cancer and 31% lower risk of multiple myeloma. However, the research noted potential risks associated with specific plant-based diets, with vegetarians showing nearly double the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and vegans having a 40% higher risk of bowel cancer.

  • The study analyzed data from participants followed for an average of 16 years.

The players

Dr. Aurora Pérez-Cornago

Lead researcher of the study from the University of Oxford.

Professor Tim Key

Co-investigator on the study and suggests the cancer risk differences are "more likely to be due to the meat itself."

Cancer Research UK

The organization has found that calcium may lower the risk of bowel cancer, with a glass of milk a day linked to a 17% reduction.

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What they’re saying

“The findings are likely to fuel further research into the specific mechanisms by which diet influences cancer development.”

— Professor Tim Key, Co-investigator

What’s next

Researchers acknowledge the need for further investigation to determine whether the observed benefits stem from avoiding meat altogether or from specific factors within vegetarian diets. Future studies may focus on the role of gut microbiome, inflammation, and specific nutrients in mediating these effects.

The takeaway

This large-scale study provides compelling evidence that vegetarian diets may offer significant protection against several major forms of cancer. While more research is needed, these findings suggest adopting a plant-based lifestyle could have substantial health benefits in terms of cancer prevention.