Sweets, sweetened beverages, and risk of pancreatic cancer in a large population-based case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the associations between sweets, sweetened and unsweetened beverages, and sugars and pancreatic cancer risk.


METHODS
We conducted a population-based case-control study (532 cases, 1,701 controls) and used multivariate logistic regression models to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Because associations were often different by sex, we present results for men and women combined and separately.


RESULTS
Among men, greater intakes of total and specific sweets were associated with pancreatic cancer risk (total sweets: OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.0, 3.6; sweet condiments: OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.2, 3.1; chocolate candy: OR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.1, 5.0; other mixed candy bars: OR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.5, 7.3 for 1 + servings/day versus none/rarely). Sweets were not consistently associated with risk among women. Sweetened beverages were not associated with increased pancreatic cancer risk. In contrast, low-calorie soft drinks were associated with increased risk among men only; while other low-/non-caloric beverages (e.g., coffee, tea, and water) were unassociated with risk. Of the three sugars assessed (lactose, fructose, and sucrose), only the milk sugar lactose was associated with pancreatic cancer risk (OR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.5, 2.7 comparing extreme quartiles).


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide limited support for the hypothesis that sweets or sugars increase pancreatic cancer risk.
Chan
June M
JM
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. june.chan@ucsf.edu
Wang
Furong
F
Holly
Elizabeth A
EA
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002253:Carbonated Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007785:Lactose / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D018426:SEER Program; D012737:Sex Factors; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*
D013549:Sweetening Agents; D007785:Lactose