Link is found between periodontal disease and pancreatic cancer

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A new study suggests that periodontal disease may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the US and it can be very hard to treat. One major risk factor is cigarette smoking and links have also been made to obesity and type 2 diabetes. Now researchers at Harvard School of Public Health and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute reveal that periodontal disease may also be a risk factor for pancreatic cancer.

Periodontal disease is caused by a bacterial infection and inflammation of the gums. The new data comes from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study which has been following 51,529 men since 1986. The researchers found 216 cases of pancreatic cancer and, of these, 67 had periodontal disease. This means that men with periodontal disease have a 63 per cent greater risk of pancreatic cancer compared to those who have healthy gums. It may be that periodontal disease causes general inflammation which, in turn, affects the pancreas. Another explanation may be that those with periodontal disease have more oral bacteria which may also be a risk factor for the pancreas. The findings suggest that oral health is very important - keep your gums healthy to avoid pancreatic cancer.

Source
Journal of the National Cancer Institute 17th January 2007

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