Animal Fat Linked to Pancreatic Cancer
Reported July 01, 2009
(Ivanhoe Newswire) – Meat and dairy lovers might want to think about cutting back on their favorite foods.
According to National Cancer Institute researchers, a higher consumption of animal fat increases the risk for pancreatic cancer. In research based on data from a large AARP Diet and Health Study, they found men who consumed a high amount of fat were 53 percent more likely to develop the cancer. Women were 23 percent more likely. Most of the increased risk was associated with total, saturated, and monounsaturated fat from red meat and dairy food sources.
A similar link was not seen for polyunsaturated fat or fat from plant food sources. “Altogether, these results suggest a role for animal fat in pancreatic carcinogenesis,” conclude the authors.
In an accompanying editorial, however, fellow investigators point out other factors related to a high consumption of animal-based fats could also be affecting the higher pancreatic cancer risk seen in people who eat a lot of red meat and diary products. While congratulating the authors for adding to the evidence on the cancer, they call for more study to confirm the importance of animal fats in raising the risk.
SOURCE: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, published online June 26, 2009