Fiber intake and pancreatic cancer risk: a case-control study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Scanty and inconsistent studies are available on the relation between dietary fiber intake and pancreatic cancer. A case-control study was carried out in northern Italy to further investigate the role of various types of dietary fibers in the etiology of pancreatic cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Cases were 326 patients with incident pancreatic cancer, excluding neuroendocrine tumors, admitted to major teaching and general hospitals during 1991-2008. Controls were 652 patients admitted for acute, nonneoplastic conditions to the same hospital network of cases. Information was elicited using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated for intake quintiles of different types of fiber after allowance for total energy intake and other potential confounding factors.

RESULTS:

Total fiber intake was inversely related to risk of pancreatic cancer (OR=0.4 for highest versus lowest quintile of intake; 95% CI 0.2-0.7). An inverse association emerged between pancreatic cancer and both soluble (OR=0.4; 95% CI 0.2-0.7) and total insoluble fiber (OR=0.5; 95% CI 0.3-0.8), particularly cellulose (OR=0.4; 95% CI 0.3-0.7) and lignin (OR=0.5; 95% CI 0.3-0.9). Fruit fiber intake was inversely associated with pancreatic cancer (OR=0.5; 95% CI 0.3-0.8), whereas grain fiber was not (OR=1.2; 95% CI 0.7-2.0).

CONCLUSIONS:

This study suggests that selected types of fiber and total fiber are inversely related to pancreatic cancer.

• Authors: E Bidoli, C Pelucchi, A Zucchetto, E Negri, L Dal Maso, J Polesel, G Boz, M Montella, S Franceschi, D Serraino, C La Vecchia, R Talamini
• Journal: Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology (Ann Oncol) Vol. 23 Issue 1 Pg. 264-268 (Jan 2012) ISSN: 1569-8041 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21460379 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Dietary Fiber

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Case-Control Studies
• Dietary Fiber (administration & dosage)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Odds Ratio
• Pancreatic Neoplasms (epidemiology, prevention & control)
• Risk Factors