High dietary lycopene associated with lower risk of pancreatic cancer A study published in the March 2005 issue of the Journal of Nutrition (http://www.nutrition.org/) found a greater intake of lycopene by men associated with a reduction in the risk of pancreatic cancer. Lycopene is a carotenoid found in tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables that has shown evidence of providing a protective effect against prostate and breast cancer. The current study is the first epidemiologic study to assess the role of carotenoid intake from diet in relation to the risk of pancreatic cancer. Participants were selected from National Enhanced Cancer Surveillance System, a case-control study involving over 21,000 Canadian participants with one of nineteen types of cancer. Four hundred sixty-two men and women diagnosed with pancreatic cancer matched with 4,721 individuals without cancer completed dietary questionnaires which provided information on carotenoid intake. After adjustment for age, smoking and other factors, it was found that subjects whose lycopene was in the top one fourth of participants experienced a 31 percent lower risk of pancreatic cancer than those whose intake was in the lowest fourth. Beta-carotene and total carotenoid intake were also significantly inversely associated with pancreatic cancer risk but only among those who had never smoked. The authors conclude these results "suggest that a diet rich in tomatoes and tomato-based products with high lycopene content may help reduce pancreatic cancer risk." Future research will better clarify the role of carotenoids in the prevention of this deadly form of cancer. Our source www.lef.org Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.