EPIC Centres - webpages

DENMARK

The Danish Cancer Society, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology
Copenhagen, Denmark
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Dept of Epidemiology, Institute of Public Health, Aarhus University
Aarhus, Denmark
  Follow-up | Scientists | Activities | Funding 

Background

"Diet, Cancer and Health" is a Danish follow-up study aimed at investigating the associations between dietary habits, lifestyle and cancer development. Potential participants were men and women born in Denmark, living in the greater Copenhagen or Aarhus areas, aged 50 to 64 years, and with no previous cancer diagnosis. The participants were recruited during the years 1993-97. A total of about 160,000 individuals were invited by mail and about 57,000 were enrolled into the study cohort. At enrolment, information on usual diet and on lifestyle was obtained using self-administered questionnaires. Further, body composition was described in detail and biological samples, including blood and urine, were collected and stored at -150ºC. This study became affiliated with EPIC in 1996.

  Males Females Number of participants Percentage of Danish cohort Percentage of EPIC-cohort
Aarhus 8,433 8,721 17,154 30.07 3.29
Copenhagen 18,746 21,154 39,900 69.93 7.65
Denmark 27,179 29,875 57,054 100.00 10.94

Follow-up

Active follow-up has been on-going through 2001 and 2002 by sending out postal questionnaires which include questions on diet, lifestyle, self-rated health and social network. Questions were also asked about diagnosis of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. By the end of March 2002 a total of 51,000 participants had received a follow-up questionnaire.
By April 2008 a total of 2,190 men and 3,359 women had died after entry into the EPIC study. At the end of 2006, cancers had been newly diagnosed in 4,943 men and 4,819 women.

Scientists

Copenhague

Dr Anne Tjønneland
(Principal Investigator)
The Danish Cancer Society, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology
Copenhagen, Denmark
Anja Olsen, PhD

The Danish Cancer Society, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology Copenhagen, Denmark
Jytte Halkjær, PhD
The Danish Cancer Society, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology
Copenhagen, Denmark
Rikke Egeberg, PhD
The Danish Cancer Society, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology
Copenhagen, Denmark
Nina Føns Johnsen, PhD
The Danish Cancer Society, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology
Copenhagen, Denmark
Nina Roswall, MSc
The Danish Cancer Society, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology
Copenhagen, Denmark
Louise Hansen, MSc
The Danish Cancer Society, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology
Copenhagen, Denmark
Rikke Dalgaard Hansen, PhD
The Danish Cancer Society, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology
Copenhagen, Denmark
Ole Raaschou-Nielsen, PhD
(Head of programme Environment and Cancer)
The Danish Cancer Society, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology
Copenhagen, Denmark
Dr Christoffer Johansen
(Head of department Psychosocial Cancer Research)
The Danish Cancer Society, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology
Copenhagen, Denmark
Pernille Envold Bidstrup, PhD
The Danish Cancer Society, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology
Copenhagen, Denmark
Jytte Fogh Larsen
(Project coordinator)
The Danish Cancer Society, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology
Copenhagen, Denmark
Jane Christensen
(Statistician)
The Danish Cancer Society, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology
Copenhagen, Denmark
Kirsten Frederiksen
(Senior statistician)
The Danish Cancer Society, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology
Copenhagen, Denmark
Katja Boll
(Database manager)
The Danish Cancer Society, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology
Copenhagen, Denmark

Aarhus


Dr Kim Overvad
(Principal Investigator)
Dept of Epidemiology, Institute of Public Health, Aarhus University
Aarhus, Denmark


Research Activities

Copenhague

Studies on diet in relation to cancer. The most important fields are alcohol, fruit and vegetables, meat/fish and wholegrain products. In addition, studies on macronutrients (fat and specific fatty acids, protein and carbohydrates), micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) and risk of cancer are carried out, including the influence and interaction of dietary supplements. Another focus area is the association between intake of phytooestrogens and risk of cancer.

Studies on overweight/waist circumference in relation to cancer, including the relation between diet and subsequent development of overweigh/obesity and waist circumference.

Studies on physical activity in relation to cancer. The main focus is physical activity in relation to cancers of the breast, colorectum and prostate.

Prognosis and cancer. The Copenhagen centre has initiated a new follow-up study, where women in the Diet, Cancer and Health cohort diagnosed with incident breast cancer are contacted and information is gathered about diet and lifestyle after diagnosis through questionnaires. The women are followed up for risk of relapse and death. Studies on prognosis of lung cancer are also performed, including the influence of genetic variations in DNA-repair systems.

Coordination of the HELGA project, a Nordic project with the primary aim to increase knowledge of health effects of wholegrain foods


Aarhus

Studies on diet in relation to cancer. The most important fields are alcohol, fruit and vegetables, meat/fish and wholegrain products. In addition, studies on macronutrients (fat and specific fatty acids, protein and carbohydrates), micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) and risk of cancer are carried out, including the influence and interaction of dietary supplements. Another focus area is the association between intake of phytooestrogens and risk of cancer.

Studies on overweight/waist circumference in relation to cancer, including the relation between diet and subsequent development of overweigh/obesity and waist circumference.

Studies on physical activity in relation to cancer. The main focus is physical activity in relation to cancers of the breast, colorectum and prostate.

Prognosis and cancer. The Copenhagen centre has initiated a new follow-up study, where women in the Diet, Cancer and Health cohort diagnosed with incident breast cancer are contacted and information is gathered about diet and lifestyle after diagnosis through questionnaires. The women are followed up for risk of relapse and death. Studies on prognosis of lung cancer are also performed, including the influence of genetic variations in DNA-repair systems.

Coordination of the HELGA project, a Nordic project with the primary aim to increase knowledge of health effects of wholegrain foods


Funding

Copenhague

Financial support is received from:
  • Danish Cancer Society
  • European Union
  • Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation
  • Nordforsk
  • Nordic Cancer Union

Aarhus

Financial support is received from:
  • Danish Cancer Society