Dietary Fiber Intake and Risk of Pancreatic Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Daniele Nucci, Omar Enzo Santangelo, Sandro Provenzano, Cristina Fatigoni, Mariateresa Nardi, Pietro Ferrara and Vincenza Gianfredi
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Daniele Nucci: Nutritional Support Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padua, Italy
Omar Enzo Santangelo: Regional Health Care and Social Agency of Lodi, ASST Lodi, 26900 Lodi, Italy
Sandro Provenzano: Local Health Unit of Trapani, ASP Trapani, 91100 Trapani, Italy
Cristina Fatigoni: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06122 Perugia, Italy
Mariateresa Nardi: Nutritional Support Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padua, Italy
Pietro Ferrara: Center for Public Health Research, University of Milan—Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
Vincenza Gianfredi: School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-20

Abstract: The burden of pancreatic cancer varies greatly across countries, with the number of deaths, incident cases, and disability-adjusted life years more than doubling in recent years, and with high-income countries having the highest incidence and mortality rates. We conducted this systematic review with meta-analysis with the goal of summarizing the current evidence on dietary fiber intake and its role in reducing the risk of pancreatic cancer, given the importance of identifying risk factors. This systematic review followed the guidelines of the Cochrane Collaboration and the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020. The structured literature search was conducted on PubMed/Medline and Scopus, combining free text words and medical subject headings. Our review contained 18 records at the end of the process. Our results show that dietary fiber intake reduces the risk of pancreatic cancer. When the analysis was differentiated according to the type of fiber considered, sub-grouped by gender (reduction of around 60% among women), and when case-control studies were conducted, the strength of the association increased. Clinicians and policymakers should improve interventions to raise the population’s awareness regarding the consumption of high-fiber diets, both in practice and in terms of public health policy.

Keywords: cancer risk; diet; dietary fiber; meta-analysis; pancreas; pancreatic cancer; systematic review (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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