Abstract
BackgroundNutrients involved in one-carbon metabolism may play a key role in pancreatic carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to examine the association between pancreatic cancer risk and intake or blood levels of vitamins B6, B12 and methionine via meta-analysis.MethodsA systematic search was performed in PubMed, Web of Knowledge and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) up to April 2020 to identify relevant studies. Risk estimates and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were retrieved from the studies and combined by a random-effect model.ResultsA total of 18 studies were included in this meta-analysis on the association of vitamin B6, B12 and methionine with pancreatic cancer risk. The combined risk estimate (95% CI) of pancreatic cancer for the highest vs lowest category of vitamin B6 intake and blood pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP, active form of vitamin B6) levels was 0.63 (0.48–0.79) and 0.65 (0.52–0.79), respectively. The results indicated a non-linear dose-response relationship between vitamin B6 intake and pancreatic risk. Linear dose–response relationship was found, and the risk of pancreatic cancer decreased by 9% for every 10 nmol/L increment in blood PLP levels. No significant association were found between pancreatic cancer risk and vitamin B12 intake, blood vitamin B12 levels, methionine intake and blood methionine levels.ConclusionOur study suggests that high intake of vitamin B6 and high concentration of blood PLP levels may be protective against the development of pancreatic cancer. Further research are warranted to confirm the results.
Highlights
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal cancer worldwide, with an estimated 458,918 new cases and 432,242 deaths in 2018 [1]
Eighteen studies were included in this meta-analysis on the association of vitamin B6, B12 and methionine with pancreatic cancer risk [7, 8, 14–17, 24–35]
The present meta-analysis indicated that increased vitamin B6 intake and levels of its circulating biomarker (PLP) might be significantly associated with reduced risk of pancreatic cancer, but this inverse association was not observed for vitamin B12 and methionine
Summary
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal cancer worldwide, with an estimated 458,918 new cases and 432,242 deaths in 2018 [1]. The prognosis of pancreatic cancer is very poor, with a 5year survival rates of 4% [2]. Potential risk factors for pancreatic cancer are dietary nutrients associated with one-carbon metabolism, such as folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and methionine, which may protect against cancer through DNA methylation, nucleotide synthesis, DNA replication and repair. Lack of folate and other methyl-group nutrients may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer by altering the methylation of DNA and RNA, disrupting DNA integrity and DNA repair, increasing DNA damage and gene mutations [10, 11]. Nutrients involved in one-carbon metabolism may play a key role in pancreatic carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to examine the association between pancreatic cancer risk and intake or blood levels of vitamins B6, B12 and methionine via meta-analysis
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