EFN

Higher consumption of red meat as well as dairy products is linked to a elevated risk of suffering from pancreatic cancer, according to a new study conducted by researchers of the National Cancer Institute in the United States.

The findings of the study, issued in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, included more than 500,000 people who had filled out 1995 or 1996 diet questionnaires for whom data about pancreatic cancer was available approximately six years later.

The research team report they “observed positive associations between pancreatic cancer and intakes of total, saturated, and monounsaturated fat overall, particularly from red meat and dairy food sources. We did not observe any consistent association with polyunsaturated or fat from plant food sources.” The findings indicate that eating fat from animals contributes to pancreatic cancer.

The study determined the chance of pancreatic cancer increased in women 23 percent, and 53 percent in men from consuming animal fat, compared to individuals who ate less dairy and red meat.

Pancreatic cancer, which is generally deadly, is the fourth-leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. Different risk factors for getting the disease have been discovered, including smoking, diabetes and obesity. Some studies have also linked dietary fat to increased risk, but researchers said that data had been inconclusive.