High bodily levels of the trace elements nickel and
selenium may lower the risk of developing the most common type of pancreatic
cancer, finds research published online in Gut.
Similarly, high levels of lead, arsenic,
and cadmium could boost the likelihood of developing the disease, the study
shows.
The researchers assessed 12 trace
element levels in the toenails of 118 patients with exocrine pancreatic
cancer—the most common form of the disease—and just under 400 hospital patients
without cancer.
Nails, and particularly toenails, are
considered reliable indicators of trace element levels, rather than dietary
assessment, because they capture intake/exposure from other sources over the
long term.
Analysis of the nail content showed that
levels of certain trace elements were significantly higher or lower among the
cancer patients than among patients in the comparison group. The higher or
lower the level, the greater or lesser was the risk of having the disease.
Patients with the highest levels of
arsenic and cadmium in their nails were between two and 3.5 times more likely
to have pancreatic cancer than those with the lowest levels.
And those with the highest levels of
lead were more than 6 times as likely to have the disease.
On the other hand, those with the
highest levels of nickel and selenium were between 33% and 95% less likely to
have the disease compared with those with the lowest levels.
These findings held true even after
taking account of other known risk factors, such as diabetes, overweight, and
smoking.
Smoking is thought to account for around
a third of all cases of pancreatic cancer. Tobacco contains trace metals,
including cadmium, which is a known cancer causing agent, and has been
associated with an increased risk of lung, kidney, and prostate cancers.
High levels of selenium, on the other
hand, have been associated with conferring protection against certain cancers,
and previous research indicates that selenium may counter the harmful effects
of cadmium, arsenic, and lead.
The authors point out that despite
decades of research, the causes of pancreatic cancer remain largely unknown:
"Our results support an increased risk of pancreatic cancer associated
with higher levels of cadmium, arsenic, and lead, as well as an inverse
association with higher levels of selenium and nickel," they conclude.
"These novel findings, if
replicated in independent studies, would point to an important role of trace
elements in pancreatic carcinogenesis."
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Notes for editors:
Gut is one of more than 35 specialist titles published
by BMJ Group. It is co-owned with the British Society for Gastroenterology. www.gut.bmj.com
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