NUTRITION AND PANCREATIC-CANCER

Epidemiologic evidence on the relation between nutrition and pancreati c cancer is reviewed. A number of epidemiologic studies of diet and ca ncer of the pancreas have been reported including descriptive, case-co ntrol, and cohort studies. Overall, fairly consistent patterns of posi tive associations with the intake of meat, carbohydrates, and dietary cholesterol have been observed. Consistent inverse relationships with fruit and vegetable intakes and, in particular, with two markers of su ch foods, namely fiber and vitamin C, also have been noted. However, t he methodologic limitations of these studies, particularly the descrip tive and case-control studies, are such that causal inferences regardi ng these empirical associations currently are not warranted. Future fo llow-up of existing dietary cohorts should enable more precise assessm ent of the possible role of diet in the etiology of cancer of the panc reas.