On the Menu: Analyzing the Macronutrients, Micronutrients, Beverages, Dietary Patterns, and Pancreatic Cancer Risk

Abstract

This narrative review summarizes the principal findings of observational studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses on diet and dietary patterns' role in the risk of pancreatic cancer. Etiologically pancreatic cancer is multifactorial. Evidence exists of an association between nutrients, dietary patterns, and pancreatic cancer. An extensive literature search was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar. A thorough search of articles published in English till May 2023 and related to the review was performed. The relationship between all macronutrients, micronutrients, and various dietary patterns with the risk of pancreatic cancer was assessed. It is concluded that a diet high in nutrients like red and processed meat, refined sugars, saturated and monounsaturated fats, alcohol, copper, and a Western dietary pattern can increase the likelihood of pancreatic cancer. Contrary to this, a diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, appropriate quantities of vitamins and minerals, and a Mediterranean dietary pattern is associated with a decreased risk of pancreatic cancer.

Keywords: food and dietary patterns; macronutrients; mediterranean diet (md); micronutrients; pancreatic cancer; risk of pancreatic cancer; western diet.