Dietary Intake of Fatty Acids and Risk of Pancreatic Cancer: A Case-Control Study

Nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics and risk of pancreatic cancer: a prospective analysis in the UK Biobank

BACKGROUND

Plasma metabolite levels in patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) have changed, but the relationship between the altered plasma metabolites and the risk for PC occurrence is not fully clear, as well as the predictive value of the specific metabolites.

METHODS

In this study, we obtained the metabolomics data of 243,145 people from the UK Biobank. An extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) model, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) regression, and covariate-adjusted Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between metabolites and PC risk. We also evaluated conventional risks, metabolites, and combination models for PC risk by comparing the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

RESULTS

The average follow-up time was 13.8 (± 2.1) years; 1,026 of 243,145 participants developed PC. Fourteen metabolites were significantly associated with PC, including glucose-related metabolites, lipids, lipoproteins, and amino acids. Increased PC risk was associated with citrate, glucose, and the percentage of triglycerides to total lipids in intermediate-density lipoprotein or small low-density lipoprotein. Glycine, histidine, cholesterol, and cholesterol ester subclasses were associated with lower PC risk. Predicting PC risk improved when the newly identified metabolites were added to conventional PC risk factors (AUC: 0.705 vs 0.711, p = 0.037). The Kaplan-Meier cumulative incidence curves showed that these metabolites were good predictors of PC risk (all log-rank p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

We identified novel metabolites that were significantly associated with the occurrence of PC, which may aid in the early diagnosis of PC.

Association between red blood cell fatty acids composition and risk of esophageal cancer: a hospital-based case-control study

BACKGROUND

& aims: Esophageal cancer (EC) is a tumor type with high invasiveness and poor prognosis, attracting scientists' attention to its pathogenesis and etiology. Given the limited evidence and conflicting findings regarding the association between EC risk and RBC fatty acids, we aimed to evaluate this association.

METHODS

The study utilized gas chromatography to analyze RBC fatty acids in 158 EC patients and 224 controls. Multivariable conditional logistic regression and restricted cubic spline analysis were employed to assess the association between EC risk and RBC fatty acids, as well as to determine the odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval (OR, 95% CI) for this association.

RESULTS

Higher levels of total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and n-3 index were associated with lower odds of being an EC case [ORT3-T1 = 0.22 (0.12-0.41), ORT3-T1 = 0.29 (0.15-0.54), ORT3-T1 = 0.49 (0.27-0.88), and ORT3-T1 = 0.19 (0.09-0.35), respectively]. Total saturated fatty acids (SFA), particularly palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), and arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6) in high concentrations, were associated with higher odds of being an EC case [ORT1-T3 = 2.02 (1.11-3.70), ORT1-T3 = 2.10 (1.15-3.87), ORT1-T3 = 2.82 (1.53-5.30), and ORT1-T3 = 2.07 (1.12-3.86), respectively]. Total monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and total trans fatty acids (TFA) showed no significant association with EC case status.

CONCLUSION

The different types of RBC fatty acids may significantly influence susceptibility to EC. Higher levels of total n-3 PUFA in RBC, specifically DHA and EPA, were associated with lower odds of being an EC case, while higher levels of C20:4n-6, C18:0, and C16:0 were associated with higher odds.

Association of erythrocyte fatty acid compositions with the risk of pancreatic cancer: A case-control study

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most fatal malignancies, which has attracted scientists to investigate its etiology and pathogenesis. Nevertheless, the association between erythrocyte fatty acids and PC risk remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association between levels of erythrocyte fatty acids and PC risk. The erythrocyte fatty acid compositions of 105 PC patients and 120 controls were determined by gas chromatography. Cases and controls were frequency matched by age and sex. Multivariable conditional logistic regression model and restricted cubic spline were applied to estimate the odds ratio with 95% confidence interval (OR, 95% CI) of erythrocyte fatty acids and PC risk. Our main findings indicated a significant negative association between levels of erythrocyte total monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) and the risk of PC (ORT3-T1 = 0.30 [0.14, 0.63] and ORT3-T1 = 0.15 [0.06, 0.33], respectively). In contrast, erythrocyte n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, specifically linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA) levels, were positively associated with PC incidence (RT1-T3 = 4.24 [1.97, 9.46] and ORT1-T3 = 4.53 [2.09, 10.20]). Total saturated fatty acid (SFA), especially high levels of palmitic acid (16:0), was positively associated with the risk of PC (ORT3-T1 = 3.25 [1.53, 7.08]). Our findings suggest that levels of different types of fatty acids in erythrocytes may significantly alter PC susceptibility. Protective factors against PC include unsaturated fatty acids such as n-3 PUFA and MUFA.

Adherence to a Cholesterol-Lowering Diet and the Risk of Pancreatic Cancer: A Case-Control Study

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer risk has been associated with increased serum cholesterol level, which is in turn partially influenced by diet. This study aimed at evaluating the association between pancreatic cancer risk and the adherence to a plant-based cholesterol-lowering diet.

METHODS

Data were derived from an Italian case-control study including 258 pancreatic cancer patients and 551 controls. The cholesterol-lowering diet score was based on seven components: high intakes of (i) non-cellulosic polysaccharides (a proxy of viscous fibers), (ii) monounsaturated fatty acids, (iii) legumes, and (iv) seeds/corn oils (a proxy of phytosterols); and low intakes of (v) saturated fatty acids, (vi) dietary cholesterol, and (vii) food with a high glycemic index. The score was calculated adding one point for each fulfilled component, thus ranging from zero (no adherence) to seven (complete adherence). The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated through the logistic regression model.

RESULTS

Scores 5-7 were associated with reduced cancer risk (OR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.18-0.52) compared to scores 0-2.

CONCLUSIONS

Adherence to a plant-based cholesterol-lowering diet was associated with a reduced risk of pancreatic cancer.

Employing Bidirectional Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Analysis to Verify the Potential of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Levels in the Prevention of Pancreatic Cancer

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), specifically Omega-3 (FAω3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have been studied for their potential role in modulating pancreatic cancer (PC) risk. Although observational studies suggest a beneficial effect in reducing this risk, their findings are often limited by confounding variables and issues of reverse causation. This study used a two-way two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) method to test the hypothesized genetic causal relationship between PUFAs and PC risk. Data from an extensive genome-wide association study (GWAS) were analyzed, focusing on FAω3 and FAω6 levels, their ratios, and DHA as variables and PC incidence as outcomes. This relationship was comprehensively evaluated using related MR methods, such as inverse variance weighting (IVW), MR Egger, and weighted median (WM). This study finds a significant negative correlation between FAω3 and DHA levels and PC risk, while FAω6 levels show no significant correlation. Interestingly, the ratio of FAω6 to FAω3 was positively associated with increased risk of PC. Neither the MR Egger nor the MR-PRESSO tests detected significant pleiotropy, nor did the Cochrane's Q test show significant heterogeneity. Leave-one-out analyzes further confirmed the robustness of these results. Using MR analysis of two samples, this study provides genetic causal evidence that FAω3 and DHA levels reduce the risk of PC, whereas the ratio of FAω6 to FAω3 increases the risk of PC. These insights highlight the potential utility of supplementing FAω3 and DHA or altering PUFAs in developing PC prevention strategies.

Bicarbonates and carbonates as antioxidants in vegetable oils at frying temperatures

Antioxidant activity of bicarbonates and carbonates including NaHCO₃ , Na₂ CO₃ , KHCO₃ , and K₂ CO₃ was evaluated in soybean oil (SBO) at 180°C. KHCO₃ and K₂ CO₃ had stronger activity than NaHCO₃ and Na₂ CO₃ . KHCO₃ (5.5 mEq/L, 0.060 wt.%) and K₂ CO₃ (5.5 mEq/L, 0.041 wt.%) were more effective than 0.02 wt.% tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) in preventing oxidation of SBO. While the antioxidant activity of KHCO₃ and K₂ CO₃ increased with increasing their concentrations up to 5.5 mEq/L, it decreased at 11 mEq/L. KHCO₃ and K₂ CO₃ were also effective in preventing oxidation of other vegetable oils including avocado, canola, corn, high oleic soybean, and olive oils. Correlation tests conducted with the results from the six oils showed that KHCO₃ and K₂ CO₃ had weak to moderate positive correlations with γ- and δ-tocopherols. In a separate study in stripped SBO, it was found that KHCO₃ had a synergistic effect with α-tocopherol, but not with γ- and δ-tocopherols. KHCO₃ had additive or synergistic effect with rosemary extract, epigallocatechin gallate, ascorbic acid, and ascorbyl palmitate. Antioxidant activity of KHCO₃ was confirmed in frying of potato cubes in SBO and canola oil. Although more studies should be conducted for better understanding of the mechanisms and factors affecting the antioxidant activity of bicarbonates and carbonates, this study demonstrated that they could serve as antioxidants or co-antioxidants of other antioxidants in frying. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Inorganic salts including NaHCO₃ , KHCO₃ , Na₂ CO₃ , and K₂ CO₃ hadstrong antioxidant activity in vegetable oils at frying temperatures when they wereadded as powder. Antioxidant activity of 0.06 wt.% KHCO₃ was higherthan that of 0.02 wt.% TBHQ in soybean oil and canola oil during frying potato. KHCO₃ had additive orsynergistic effect with rosemary extract, epigallocatechin gallate, ascorbicacid, and ascorbyl palmitate indicating that these inorganic salts can be usedas co-antioxidants to enhance the antioxidant activity of existing antioxidantswhile they can be used alone as well.

Physical activity and individual plasma phospholipid SFAs in pregnancy: a longitudinal study in a multiracial/multiethnic cohort in the United States

BACKGROUND

Circulating individual SFAs in pregnant females are critical for maternal and fetal health. However, research on identifying their modifiable factors is limited.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to examine the associations of total physical activity (PA) and types of PA with circulating individual SFAs during pregnancy in a multiracial/multiethnic cohort of pregnant females in the United States.

METHODS

The study included participants in a nested case-control study (n = 321) from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD Fetal Growth Studies-Singleton Cohort. Sampling weights were applied, so the results represented the entire Fetal Growth Cohort. Plasma phospholipid SFAs were measured at 4 visits [10-14 (visit 1), 15-26 (visit 2), 23-31 (visit 3), and 33-39 (visit 4) weeks of gestation] throughout pregnancy. PA of the previous year at visit 1 and since the previous visit at the subsequent visits was assessed using the validated Pregnancy PA Questionnaire. Time-specific and longitudinal associations were examined using multivariable linear and generalized estimating equation models.

RESULTS

Total PA (metabolic equivalent of task-h/wk) was positively associated with circulating heptadecanoic acid (17:0) at visit 1 (β × 103: 0.07; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.11) and pentadecanoic acid (15:0) at visit 3 (β × 103: 0.09; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.14) independent of sociodemographic, reproductive, pregnancy, and dietary factors. Across the 4 visits, the positive associations with total PA were consistent for pentadecanoic acid (β × 103: 0.06; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.10) and heptadecanoic acid (β × 103: 0.10; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.14). Out of the 4 PA types (i.e., sports/exercise, household/caregiving, transportation, and occupational PA) considered, the magnitude of positive associations was the largest for sports/exercise PA.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that maternal PA is positively associated with circulating pentadecanoic and heptadecanoic acids. The findings warrant confirmation by future studies.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00912132.