Bao Y. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2011:103:epub ahead of print.
A review of published literature has found there is no link between
intake of folate and the risk for pancreatic cancer.
Because pancreatic cancer is still among the most deadly cancers,
researchers are striving to identify modifiable risk factors that could reduce
the disease’s incidence. Prior research has been inconsistent and
inconclusive about the role that folate intake may play in the risk for
pancreatic cancer.
In the pooled analysis, researchers analyzed primary data from 14
prospective cohort studies. The studies included more than 300,000 men and more
than half a million women. In all of the studies, folate intake was collected
at baseline.
Among the population of all of the studies - followed for between 7 and
20 years - 2,195 cases of pancreatic cancer occurred. The researchers of the
pooled analysis found no association between folate intake and risk for
pancreatic cancer. When comparing the highest quintile of folate intake with
the lowest quintile, the RR of pancreatic cancer was 1.06.
Although this study had a large sample size, with a large number of
pancreatic cancer cases, it also had some weaknesses. Among the study’s
limitations are the fact that folate was examined only at baseline, not taking
into account any dietary changes that may have occurred during the study
period. In addition, the role that folate intake during childhood may play was
not examined.
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