Processed Meat And Pancreatic Cancer: Dangerous Liaison!
Next time you gorge up on processed meat like sausage or bacon, do think about the fact that eating too much processed meat may give you pancreatic cancer. Processed meat and pancreatic cancer are closely related, so says a study, conducted by Swedish researchers. A similar study was conducted in 2008, where it was suggested that processed meat can increase the risk of cancer.
1) The Study
The study, commissioned by the Swedish Cancer Foundation and Karolinska Institutet, concludes that for every 50 grams of processed meat, eaten daily, there was as much as a 19% rise in the risk of contracting pancreatic cancer in comparison to those who did not eat meat. The 50 grams could be a sausage or two bacon rashers.
2) The Red Meat
The evidence from the study is inconclusive about red meat in case of the risk comparison between men and women. However, the findings show that men, who ate 120 grams or red meat everyday had a 29% increase in pancreatic cancer risk as compared to those who did not eat red meat. However, that may be because the men involved in the study tended to eat more red meat as against women.
3) The Verdict
The study author, Associate Professor Susanna Larsson, who works with the Karolinska Institutet, said, “Pancreatic cancer has poor survival rates. So as well as diagnosing it early, it’s important to understand what can increase the risk of this disease.” Another expert, Sara Hiom, Director of Information at Cancer Research UK, said, “The jury is still out as to whether meat is a definite risk factor for pancreatic cancer and more large studies are needed to confirm this. But this new analysis suggests processed meat may be playing a role.”
Till the relationship between processed meat and pancreatic cancer is proved beyond doubt, it would be wise to stick to limited consumption of processed meat or red meat.
Image Courtesy: presstv.ir