Methionine May Ward off Pancreatic Cancer

[Guest guest]

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Feb 22 - Higher methionine intake is apparently

associated with a reduction in pancreatic cancer risk, according to a report

in the January issue of Gastroenterology.

Impaired methyl group metabolism may contribute to pancreatic diseases and

carcinogenesis, the authors explain, suggesting that methyl group donors

like methionine could influence the risk of pancreatic cancer.

Dr. na C. Larsson from the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden and

associates examined intakes of methionine and vitamin B6 in relation to the

incidence of pancreatic cancer in the Swedish Mammography Cohort and Cohort

of Swedish Men. The study comprised nearly 82,000 men and women aged 45 to

83 years.

During a mean follow-up of 7.2 years, 147 incident cases of pancreatic

cancer were diagnosed.

The multivariate rate ratio for pancreatic cancer was 0.44 for individuals

in the highest quartile of methionine intake compared with those in the

lowest quartile, the researchers found.

The inverse association between methionine intake and pancreatic cancer was

more pronounced in smokers than nonsmokers, the investigators note. There

was no interaction between alcohol consumption and methionine intake and

pancreatic cancer risk.

There was no significant association between vitamin B6 intake and

pancreatic cancer risk, the report indicates.

" The results from this prospective study suggest that higher intake of

methionine may reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer, " Dr. Larsson and

colleagues conclude. " Foods rich in methionine include fish, poultry, meat,

legumes, and dairy products, " they add.

" The results could be important because pancreatic cancer, now the 4th most

common cause of cancer mortality in the United States, has an extremely high

mortality rate, " write Dr. Albert B. Lowenfels and Dr. Maisonneuve

from New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York in a related editorial.

" Even though the authors adjusted for many pancreatic cancer risk factors, "

the editorial goes on, " there is still the possibility that the apparent

protective function of methionine is related to confounding by another

dietary or nondietary protective factor. "

Dr. Lowenfels and Dr. Maisonneuve conclude: " Before suggesting that our

patients increase their intake of methionine, we need substantial additional

data concerning efficacy and safety issues. "

Gastroenterology 2007;132:113-118,441-443.

[Guest guest]

Hi folks:

A search of Pubmed using the expression " Larsson sc pancreatic "

yields about a dozen papers. In brief, they found the following,

relative risk in parentheses:

Appear to cause pancratic cancer:

---------------------------------

Obesity 1·81

Abdominal adiposity 1·32; 1·74 females; males

Diabetes 1·88

Smoking 3·06

Smoking >40 pack.years 5·0

Red meat 1·73

Sugar 1·69

Soft drinks 1·93

Fruit soup/stewed fruit 1·51

Prevents:

---------

Poultry 0·44

Cabbage 0·62

Folate from food 0·25

MET 0·44

MET females 0·59

MET males 0·32

Does not affect:

----------------

Overall fruit and vegetable consumption

Folate supplements

Aspirin

Vitamin B6

Rodney.

> NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Feb 22 - Higher methionine intake is

apparently

> associated with a reduction in pancreatic cancer risk, according to

a report

> in the January issue of Gastroenterology.

>

> Impaired methyl group metabolism may contribute to pancreatic

diseases and

> carcinogenesis, the authors explain, suggesting that methyl group

donors

> like methionine could influence the risk of pancreatic cancer.

>

> Dr. na C. Larsson from the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm,

Sweden and

> associates examined intakes of methionine and vitamin B6 in

relation to the

> incidence of pancreatic cancer in the Swedish Mammography Cohort

and Cohort

> of Swedish Men. The study comprised nearly 82,000 men and women

aged 45 to

> 83 years.

>

> During a mean follow-up of 7.2 years, 147 incident cases of

pancreatic

> cancer were diagnosed.

>

> The multivariate rate ratio for pancreatic cancer was 0.44 for

individuals

> in the highest quartile of methionine intake compared with those in

the

> lowest quartile, the researchers found.

>

> The inverse association between methionine intake and pancreatic

cancer was

> more pronounced in smokers than nonsmokers, the investigators note.

There

> was no interaction between alcohol consumption and methionine

intake and

> pancreatic cancer risk.

>

> There was no significant association between vitamin B6 intake and

> pancreatic cancer risk, the report indicates.

>

> " The results from this prospective study suggest that higher intake

of

> methionine may reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer, " Dr. Larsson

and

> colleagues conclude. " Foods rich in methionine include fish,

poultry, meat,

> legumes, and dairy products, " they add.

>

> " The results could be important because pancreatic cancer, now the

4th most

> common cause of cancer mortality in the United States, has an

extremely high

> mortality rate, " write Dr. Albert B. Lowenfels and Dr.

Maisonneuve

> from New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York in a related

editorial.

>

> " Even though the authors adjusted for many pancreatic cancer risk

factors, "

> the editorial goes on, " there is still the possibility that the

apparent

> protective function of methionine is related to confounding by

another

> dietary or nondietary protective factor. "

>

> Dr. Lowenfels and Dr. Maisonneuve conclude: " Before suggesting that

our

> patients increase their intake of methionine, we need substantial

additional

> data concerning efficacy and safety issues. "

>

> Gastroenterology 2007;132:113-118,441-443.

>