Pancreatic cancer is a devastating illness. The National Cancer Institute estimates in 2012 there will be 43,920 new cases of pancreatic cancer with 37,390 deaths from pancreatic cancer. Nutritional associations to pancreatic cancer have been found. Kristina Fiore has reported for MedPage Today "Bacon, Sausage Linked to Pancreatic Cancer."
Researchers have found that processed meats such as sausage, bacon, and cold cuts may slightly increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. Susanna Larsson, PhD, of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, and colleagues reported in the British Journal of Cancer that for every 50-gram serving of processed meat per day, which is like a couple of slices of ham, relative risk of the disease rose by 19%.
The researchers also found that red meat also posed a 29% greater relative risk of pancreatic cancer to men. Marji McCullough, ScD, RD, who is director of nutritional epidemiology for the American Cancer Society, has commented that although overall risks appear to be "modest," they are "consistent with associations with red and processed meats seen with other other gastrointestinal cancers."
Previous studies have shown a link between meat and stomach and colorectal cancers, however it hasn't been clear as to whether meat also affects pancreatic cancer risk. Therefore Larsson and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis of 11 studies which totaled more than two million patients, 6,643 of whom had pancreatic cancer. They discovered that eating at least 120 grams per day of red meat, which was determined to be a "standard" serving, was associated with a 13% increased relative risk of the disease.
It was found that red meat didn't raise the risk of pancreatic cancer in women, and the researchers said that men generally ate more red meat. They therefore noted that could mean there may be an association between the highest levels of red meat intake and pancreatic cancer risk. On the other hand processed meat was associated with a significant increase in pancreatic cancer risk all around.
The increase is likely to be related to the nitrites and N-nitroso compounds which are found in processed meats, which have been shown to be carcinogenic and to induce pancreatic cancer in animal models. Obesity and smoking have already been established risk factors for pancreatic cancer. Now, McCullough has said these new findings support American Cancer Society recommendations to limit the intake of red and processed meats to prevent cancer. And a diet low in red meat also lowers the risk of heart disease and other diseases as well.
Photographer: savit keawtavee
