The risk of developing pancreatic cancer can increase with low levels of Vitamin D. The rates of pancreatic cancer are high in countries with the least amount of sunlight, says a new study.
"If you are living at a high latitude or in a place with a lot of heavy cloud cover, you cannot make vitamin D most of the year, which results in a higher-than-normal risk of getting pancreatic cancer," said first author Cedric Garland from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine.
Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer often involves its exocrine part. It grows aggressively, and often detected late. Treatment options include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
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According to the study, people who live in sunny countries near the equator have only one-sixth of the age-adjusted incidence rate of pancreatic cancer as those who live far from it.
"The importance of sunlight deficiency strongly suggests - but does not prove - that vitamin D deficiency may contribute to the development of pancreatic cancer," Garland noted.
![Enzyme Linked to Aggressive Pancreatic Cancer Offers Potential Clinical Advances]( "Enzyme Linked to Aggressive Pancreatic Cancer Offers Potential Clinical Advances")
An enzyme is being discovered by Mayo Clinic researchers which they say is tightly linked to how aggressive pancreatic cancer will be in a patient.
The body naturally produces Vitamin D when the skin is directly exposed to sunlight. Some foods also contain vitamin D. While fatty fish, such as salmon and tuna, are good sources, cheese and egg yolks provide small amounts.
The researchers studied data from 107 countries, taking into account international differences and possible confounders, such as alcohol consumption, obesity and smoking.
"While these other factors also contribute to risk, the strong inverse association with cloud-cover adjusted sunlight persisted even after they were accounted for," Garland said.
As per the World Cancer Research Fund International, pancreatic cancer is the 12th most common cancer in the world.
Incidence rates are highest in North America and Europe, lowest in Africa and Asia.
The study appeared in the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Source: Medindia
Enzyme Linked to Aggressive Pancreatic Cancer Offers Potential Clinical Advances
An enzyme is being discovered by Mayo Clinic researchers which they say is tightly linked to how aggressive pancreatic cancer will be in a patient.
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The body naturally produces Vitamin D when the skin is directly exposed to sunlight. Some foods also contain vitamin D. While fatty fish, such as salmon and tuna, are good sources, cheese and egg yolks provide small amounts.
The researchers studied data from 107 countries, taking into account international differences and possible confounders, such as alcohol consumption, obesity and smoking.
"While these other factors also contribute to risk, the strong inverse association with cloud-cover adjusted sunlight persisted even after they were accounted for," Garland said.
As per the World Cancer Research Fund International, pancreatic cancer is the 12th most common cancer in the world.
Incidence rates are highest in North America and Europe, lowest in Africa and Asia.
The study appeared in the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Source: Medindia
Microfluidic Device Captures Potential Biomarker for Early Pancreatic Cancer
Cancer cells are on the move in the bloodstream in the very early stage of pancreatic cancer. And it can be detected before cancer is diagnosed, claims research by the University of Michigan Health System.
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 Use of Low-dose Aspirin may Reduce Pancreatic Cancer RiskThe use of low dose aspirin may actually help an individual reduce his risk of developing pancreatic cancer, a new study has found | Advertisement
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