The<unk>  <unk>  study is a Europe-wide<unk>  cohort study of the relationships between diet and<unk> , as well as other chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease. With over half a million participants, it is the largest study of diet and disease to be undertaken.<unk>  is coordinated by the International Agency for Research on<unk>  (IARC), part of the World Health Organization, and funded by the "Europe Against<unk> " programme of the<unk>  Commission as well as multiple nation-specific grants and charities. 521,457 healthy adults, mostly aged 35–70 years, were enrolled in 23 centres in ten<unk>  countries: Denmark (11%), France (14%), Germany (10%), Greece (5%), Italy (9%), The Netherlands (8%), Norway (7%), Spain (8%), Sweden (10%) and the United Kingdom (17%). One UK centre (Oxford) recruited 27,000 vegetarians and vegans; this subgroup forms the largest study of this dietary group. Recruitment to the study took place between 1993 and 1999, and follow-up is planned for at least ten years, with repeat interview/questionnaires every three to five years. The main<unk>  data collected are standardised dietary questionnaires (self-administered or interview-based), seven-day food diaries, blood samples and anthropometric measurements, such as body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio. Additionally, the GenAir case-control study is studying the relationship of passive smoking and air pollution with<unk> s and respiratory diseases. Up to 2004, there were over 26,000 new cases of<unk>  recorded among participants, with the most common being<unk> s of the breast, colorectum, prostate and lung. Current analyses are focusing particularly on stomach, colorectal, breast, prostate and lung<unk> s. The different dietary patterns in the different countries should enable reliable associations to be made between particular diets and<unk> s. The analysis of stored blood samples should also allow dissection of genetic factors involved in<unk> s, as well as the effects of hormones and hormone-like factors.
European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition
Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial
Nutritional epidemiology
British birth cohort studies
West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study
GuLF Study
Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology
MOMS Trial