Some 44,000 adults in the United States were expected to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2011, according to the National Cancer Institute. As with many other forms of cancer, a healthy lifestyle can reduce your risk of developing pancreatic cancer, according to a study whose results were published in the April 2009 "Archives of Internal Medicine." Whole-grain bread is one healthy food that may reduce your risk of pancreatic cancer.
Background
Your pancreas is an organ responsible for helping your body digest food -- and manage the blood sugar that rises in response to it. The pancreas is the primary source of digestive enzymes in your body -- compounds that break down nutrients in food for digestion. Also, special cells in the pancreas -- known as beta cells -- produce and release the hormone insulin. Pancreatic cancer begins with a mutated pancreatic cell that replicates rapidly. If this process continues unabated, a pancreatic tumor can form.
Whole Grains
Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, investigated the effects of whole-grain consumption -- including whole-wheat bread -- on pancreatic cancer risk in a group of about 2,300 adults over a four-year period. The study was published in the September 2007 issue of the "American Journal of Epidemiology." Researchers found that whole-grain consumption reduced pancreatic cancer risk. Those who consumed two or more servings of whole grains daily had a 40 percent lower pancreatic cancer risk, compared with those who seldom consumed whole grains.
Folic Acid
Folic acid is an essential B-vitamin that facilitates nerve conduction, energy metabolism and the reproduction of new cells. Bread is an important source of folic acid. Whole grains naturally contain folic acid. Also, folic acid is added to all processed grains in the United States, per a Food and Drug Administration mandate. A study conduced by scientists at George Washington University and published in the December 2009 "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that women who consumed the greatest amount of folic acid had a lower pancreatic cancer risk than those who ate the least amount. However, the protective effect of folic acid was not found in men.
Considerations
When choosing bread, opt for 100-percent whole-wheat bread, as it contains more dietary fiber and vitamins than refined bread. You can incorporate bread into your diet by eating it with your meal, using it in sandwiches or toasting it for a healthy snack. Use healthy spreads to flavor your bread, such as no-sugar-added peanut butter.
References
- National Cancer Institute: Pancreatic Cancer
- "American Journal of Epidemiology"; Whole Grains and Risk of Pancreatic Cancer in a Large Population-based Case-Control Study in the San Francisco Bay Area, California; J Chane et al.; September 2007
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Folate Intake, Post–folic Acid Grain Fortification, and Pancreatic Cancer Risk in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial; B Oaks et al.; December 209
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; A Combined Healthy Lifestyle Score and Risk of Pancreatic Cancer in a Large Cohort Study; Li Jiao et al.; April 2009
- Spina Bifida Association: Status of Folic Acid Fortification in the United States
