| Potential mediators (hazard ratio; 95% CI) | ||
---|---|---|---|
All cancer | Mediation through BMI | Mediation through IGF-Ia | Mediation through free testosteronea |
Low meat-eaters versus regular meat-eaters | Mediation through BMI (n = 450,412) |  |  |
 Total effect | 0.99 (0.96–1.00) |  |  |
 Natural indirect effect | 0.99 (0.98–1.00) |  |  |
 Natural direct effect | 0.99 (0.95–1.00) |  |  |
 | Mediation through BMI (n = 256,727) |  |  |
Fish-eaters versus regular meat-eaters | Â | Â | Â |
 Total effect | 0.90 (0.83–0.97) |  |  |
 Natural indirect effect | 0.99 (0.90–1.01) |  |  |
 Natural direct effect | 0.90 (0.83–0.98) |  |  |
 | Mediation through BMI (n = 254,709) |  |  |
Vegetarians versus regular meat-eaters | Â | Â | Â |
 Total effect | 0.86 (0.78–0.96) |  |  |
 Natural indirect effect | 0.94 (0.81–1.08) |  |  |
 Natural direct effect | 0.92 (0.77–1.09) |  |  |
Colorectal cancer | Mediation through BMI (n = 450,412) |  |  |
Low meat-eaters versus regular meat-eaters | |||
 Total effect | 0.91 (0.85–0.97) |  |  |
 Natural indirect effect | 1.00 (0.98–1.02) |  |  |
 Natural direct effect | 0.91 (0.86–0.97) |  |  |
Postmenopausal breast cancer | Mediation through BMI (n = 111,574) | Mediation through IGF-I (n = 103,853) | Mediation through free testosterone (n = 93,662) |
Vegetarians versus regular meat-eaters | |||
 Total effect | 0.82 (0.68–0.99) | 0.86 (0.71–1.05) | 0.86 (0.71–1.05) |
 Natural indirect effect | 0.83 (0.63–1.08) | 0.91 (0.73–1.15) | 1.06 (0.76–1.38) |
 Natural direct effect | 0.99 (0.79–1.23) | 0.94 (0.70–1.21) | 0.81 (0.62–1.05) |
Prostate cancerb |  | Mediation through IGF-I (n = 126,538) | Mediation through free testosterone (n = 116,087) |
Vegetarians versus regular meat-eaters | |||
 Total effect |  | 0.71 (0.56–0.92) | 0.71 (0.56–0.92) |
 Natural indirect effect |  | 1.10 (0.77–1.56) | 0.99 (0.67–1.48) |
 Natural direct effect |  | 0.64 (0.50–1.01) | 0.71 (0.51- 1.01) |
Fish-eaters versus regular meat-eaters |  |  | Mediation through free testosterone (n = 116,186) |
 Total effect |  |  | 0.80 (0.65–0.99) |
 Natural indirect effect |  |  | 0.95 (0.70–1.29) |
 Natural direct effect |  |  | 0.86 (0.56–1.32) |