By David Liu, PHD

Diet high in processed meat and red meat is linked with elevated risk for pancreatic cancer

Saturday Jan 14, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- Many studies have associated eating a diet high in processed meat and red meat with increased risk for pancreatic cancer.  A new meta-analysis of data from previous prospective studies confirms that consumption of red meat and processed meat can be a risk factor for pancreatic cancer.

Processed meat includes bacon, salami, sausages, hot dogs or processed deli or luncheon meats, which are often prepared by smoking, curing or salting with or without the addition of chemical preservatives such as nitrates and nitrites.

The meta-analysis conducted by S.C. Larsson and A Wolk of  National Institute of Environmental Medicine Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden shows that eating 50 grams per day of processed meat was associated with 19 percent increased risk for pancreatic cancer in both men and women.

Processed meat contains preservatives such as nitrites and nitrates, which are known to form carcinogens nitrosamines in the human body. 

Studies show that drinking a glass of orange juice or vitamin C fruit juice may help reduce the risk of the formation of these carcinogens.

Larsson and Wolk also find that eating 120 grams per day of red meat was associated with increased risk for pancreatic cancer by 13 percent in men and women.  Among men, eating such an amount of red meat boosted the risk by 29 percent. But no increased risk was observed among women who ate that amount of red meat.

One risk from red meat is metal iron, which is a component of red pigments in the blood.  

Studies have shown excess intake of iron, which is found high in red meat like beef, pork and lamb (mutton), is linked with elevated risk of various cancers.  

Red meat consumption does not affect the risk for pancreatic cancer among women, probably because women lose iron periodically during menstrual periods, a health observer suggested.

The current study published online January 12 2012 in British Journal of Cancer was based on data from eleven protective study of 6643 pancreatic cancer cases identified by searching PubMed and EMBASE databases which were updated through November 2011 at the time of searching.

The researchers concluded "Findings from this meta-analysis indicate that processed meat consumption is positively associated with pancreatic cancer risk. Red meat consumption was associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer in men."

Pancreatic cancer is not the only disease that can be caused by eating processed meat and red meat.

Renata Micha and colleagues from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) published a study on May 2010 on the website of the journal Circulation saying that eating processed meat was associated with 42 percent increased risk of heart disease and 19 percent increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Keywords: diet; meat; meta-analysis; pancreatic cancer; prospective studies; review

What is pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer is a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas.  95% of pancreatic cancer cases are adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreatias. A minority of the disease occurs in the islet cells and these tumors are called neuroendocrine tumors.

Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is highly lethal because when diagnosed, the tumor is often in its advanced stages.

Common symptoms include pain in the upper abdomen, loss of appetite and or nausea and vomiting, significant weight loss, painless jaundice, trousseau sign meaning blood clots form spontaneously in the portal blood vessels, diabetes mellitus or elevated blood sugar levels, and clinical depression among others.

Common risk factors for pancreatic cancer

Adjustable risk factors for this malignancy include smoking, diets low in vegetables and fruits, diets high in red meat and processed meat,  diets high in sugar-sweetened drinks or soft drinks, diets high in fat,  obesity, diabetes mellitus, chronic pancreatitis, helicobacter pulori infection and gingivitis or periodontal disease.  Drinking alcohol and coffee can also be a risk factor for the disease.

Pancreatic cancer prevention

In order to prevent pancreatic cancer, one needs to avoid risk factors mentioned above.   Some other lifestyle and dietary factors that may also help prevent the disease include vitamin C, E and omega-3 fatty acid, vitamin D, nigella sativa extract, low fat diet, plant-based diet, vegetables, flavonoids, and caloric restriction.