High vegetable diet protects against pancreatic cancer

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

In the biggest study of its kind, researchers have found that eating vegetables reduces the risk of pancreatic cancer.
There is already some strong evidence that eating fruits and vegetables can protect you from cancer. Now scientists from the University of California, San Francisco, show how diet can influence the risk of getting pancreatic cancer.

They looked at a group of 523 pancreatic cancer patients and around 1,700 controls, asking them about their diet. It turned out that a high fruit and vegetable intake was protective against the disease. The vegetables most strongly linked to protection were onions, garlic, beans, yellow vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, corn and yellow squash, dark leafy vegetables and cruciferous vegetables.

Fruits were protective, but somewhat less so. Citrus fruits and citrus juices had the most influence. A 50 per cent reduced risk was found for those eating at least five servings a day of fruits and vegetables compared to those having two servings or less. Pancreatic cancer is not common, but it is deadly. Making simple dietary choices may help you avoid it - and also reduce the risk of other cancers and other diseases.

Source
Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention September 2005

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