International comparisons of nutrition and mortality from pancreatic cancer.

Average per capita consumption of eggs, milk, and meat; total caloric intake; and protein and fat consumption in 29 countries from 1964 through 1966 was related to the average age-adjusted mortality rates from cancer of the pancreas in these same countries for the period 1978 through 1979. A direct and significant correlation between mortality rates from cancer of the pancreas and per capita consumption of eggs, milk (p less than 0.001), and meat (p less than 0.01 for males and p less than 0.05 for females) was found. The total caloric intake was directly correlated with mortality rates from pancreatic cancer (p less than 0.01). This correlation was stronger for calories derived from animal sources of food (p less than 0.001) for both sexes, while consumption of vegetable calories correlated with decreased rates of mortality from pancreatic cancer. The average per capita intake of both total and animal fat was also directly correlated with mortality from cancer of the pancreas (p less than 0.001). This suggests that animal sources of calories, protein, and fat may play an important role in the etiology of pancreatic cancer.