Aug 2026· British Journal of Surgery· Vol 113· 0 citations
TL;DR
A possible protective role for magnesium is supported and potential biases warrant cautious interpretation, and these findings support a possible protective role for magnesium and highlight the need for further large prospective studies.
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis and limited preventive strategies. Magnesium is a biologically important micronutrient involved in metabolic regulation, genomic stability, and inflammation, but evidence linking magnesium intake to pancreatic cancer risk is inconsistent. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association between dietary magnesium intake and pancreatic cancer risk.
A systematic search of major electronic databases was conducted from inception to September 2025 in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Prospective cohort and case–control studies assessing dietary magnesium intake and pancreatic cancer risk were included. Summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) comparing highest versus lowest intake categories were pooled using random-effects models. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic. Subgroup, sensitivity, and publication bias analyses were performed. Study quality was evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale.
Nine observational studies (four cohort and five case–control) were included, comprising over 650,000 participants and approximately 2,400 pancreatic cancer cases. Higher magnesium intake was associated with a significantly lower risk of pancreatic cancer (pooled RR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.45–0.85). Heterogeneity was substantial (I² = 74%), with stronger associations observed in case–control studies. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the findings, and no significant publication bias was detected.
Higher dietary magnesium intake is associated with a reduced risk of pancreatic cancer. Although heterogeneity and potential biases warrant cautious interpretation, these findings support a possible protective role for magnesium and highlight the need for further large prospective studies.
Pancreatic cancer is a rapidly fatal malignancy with few preventive options. Iron is a biologically important micronutrient with roles in oxidative stress, but evidence linking iron status to pancreatic cancer is inconsistent. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association between iron intake or serum iron levels and pancreatic cancer risk.
Major electronic databases were searched from inception to December 2025 for studies assessing iron intake and/or biomarkers of iron status in relation to breast cancer risk. Using random-effects meta-analyses, pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated comparing the highest versus lowest category of each iron measure.
A total of 11 studies were included, nine of which were eligible for meta-analysis of iron intake measures. Across eight studies, total iron intake was associated with a borderline inverse association with pancreatic cancer risk (pooled RR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.74 - 1.00), with a stronger association observed in case-control studies (pooled RR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.64 - 1.02) compared to prospective cohorts (pooled RR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.74-1.10). There was no association for heme-iron intake (pooled RR = 1.09, 95% CI: 0.92-1.28).
Iron intake may be positively associated with pancreatic cancer risk. Further prospective studies are needed to clarify the role of heme-iron intake and circulating measures of iron status due to limited available data.
Essam Rama, S. Aslam, David Wong et al.· British Journal of Surgery· 0 citations
Background/Objectives: Gastric cancer is a major global health challenge with multifactorial aetiology. Vitamin D has been investigated for a potential role in gastric carcinogenesis, but evidence remains heterogeneous. This systematic review aimed to synthesise evidence on serum 25(OH)D, dietary vitamin D intake and VDR polymorphisms in relation to gastric cancer in adults and children. Methods: A systematic search following PRISMA 2020 standards was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Lens.org for studies published from January 2007 to January 2026. Observational studies evaluating vitamin D exposure or VDR polymorphisms in relation to gastric cancer were eligible. Risk of bias was assessed using established instruments. Where comparable data were available, random-effects meta-analyses were performed, with REML estimation and Knapp–Hartung adjustment. Results: Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria, and no eligible paediatric studies were identified. Four studies evaluating serum 25(OH)D showed a non-significant tendency towards lower concentrations in gastric cancer patients (MD = −8.82 ng/mL, 95% CI −18.15 to 0.51). Five studies evaluating dietary vitamin D showed no significant association with gastric cancer risk (OR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.47–1.60). Five studies evaluating the VDR FokI polymorphism under the dominant model demonstrated increased gastric cancer susceptibility among variant carriers (OR = 1.44, 95% CI 1.03–2.01). Conclusions: Associations between vitamin D and gastric cancer varied by exposure type. Serum 25(OH)D and dietary intake showed no significant pooled associations, whereas VDR FokI was associated with increased gastric cancer susceptibility. The absence of paediatric evidence highlights an important knowledge gap.
Roxana Pântea, L. Meliț· Medical Science· 0 citations
Pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis and limited modifiable risk factors. Micronutrients may influence pancreatic carcinogenesis through antioxidant, metabolic, and epigenetic mechanisms. This narrative review aimed to synthesise contemporary epidemiological evidence on the association between key dietary micronutrients and pancreatic cancer risk.
A literature search was conducted using PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase, in 2022, March 2024 and August 2025. Primary observational studies examining dietary intake or circulating levels of selected vitamins (A, B6, B9, B12, C, D, and E) and minerals (iron, magnesium, selenium, and zinc) in relation to pancreatic cancer were included. Preclinical studies, reviews, and meta-analyses were excluded. Evidence was synthesised without quantitative pooling.
Seventy-three studies were included. Overall, findings were heterogeneous across micronutrients, study designs, and exposure assessment methods. Dietary intake of most micronutrients, including vitamin A, vitamin D, zinc, iron, and vitamin B12, was not consistently associated with pancreatic cancer risk. More frequent inverse associations were reported for vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, folate, vitamin B6, and magnesium, particularly in case–control studies and biomarker-based analyses. Prospective cohort studies generally reported weaker or null associations. Associations for circulating micronutrient concentrations were often stronger but inconsistent.
Current epidemiological evidence does not support strong or consistent associations between most individual micronutrients and pancreatic cancer risk. Modest protective associations for magnesium, folate, and vitamin B6 warrant further investigation. Future large prospective studies with repeated dietary and biomarker assessments are needed to clarify causality and sort micronutrient-specific effects from broader dietary and metabolic patterns.
Essam Rama, Natasha Hill, Oliver Tomkins et al.· British Journal of Surgery· 0 citations
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most lethal malignancies with a poor prognosis. Although the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) is hypothesized to be inversely associated with PC risk, epidemiological findings remain inconsistent. This meta-analysis aims to quantitatively evaluate the association between Mediterranean Diet adherence and the risk of developing pancreatic cancer by synthesizing the most recent evidence.
A systematic search was performed across PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for observational studies investigating MedDiet and PC risk. Data were synthesized using both continuous and categorical variable analyses. Given the anticipated heterogeneity, a random-effects model was applied to pool the effect estimates.
Fourteen studies (12 cohorts and 2 case-control studies) were eligible for inclusion. In the continuous analysis, a higher MedDiet adherence score was associated with a lower risk of PC (pooled relative effect estimates per one-unit increase within the respective scoring system = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.94–0.97; I
2
= 58.8%). In the categorical analysis, participants in the highest adherence group had a 10% lower risk of PC compared to those in the lowest group (pooled relative effect estimates = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.86–0.94, I
2
= 72.4%). Subgroup analyses: The inverse association was consistently observed in both males and females. Sensitivity analyses indicated that the pooled relative effect estimates remained consistently below 1.0 (ranging from 0.75 to 0.98) after omitting individual studies. Nevertheless, Egger’s test suggested potential publication bias only for the categorical variables, but not for the continuous variables.
This meta-analysis suggests an inverse association between higher adherence to the MedDiet and pancreatic cancer risk. However, the observational nature of the available evidence limits causal inference. Further well-designed prospective studies and dietary intervention trials are warranted to confirm this association and clarify its potential implications for pancreatic cancer prevention.
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/
, identifier CRD420261459967.
Yu-Xin Zhang, Min Du, Lu Li et al.· Frontiers in Nutrition· 0 citations
Background Esophageal cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, yet the association between coffee consumption—a ubiquitous dietary exposure—and its risk remains inconclusive. This meta-analysis systematically evaluates the association between coffee consumption and esophageal cancer risk, aiming to quantify the overall effect and explore potential heterogeneity. Methods A systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science was conducted up to January 2026 for studies comparing coffee intake between esophageal cancer patients and healthy controls. Two reviewers independently extracted data. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) or hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random- or fixed-effects models. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. Certainty of evidence was rated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. Results Across 22 included studies encompassing 1,775,988 participants (7,124 cases), neither cohort nor case-control studies demonstrated a significant association between coffee consumption and esophageal cancer risk. The pooled HR from cohort studies was 0.87 (95% CI: 0.74–1.03; I2=24.2%), while the pooled OR from case-control studies was 1.02 (95% CI: 0.77–1.35; I2=66.7%). Conclusions This meta-analysis found no statistically significant association between coffee consumption and esophageal cancer risk. The available evidence, of low certainty, does not support coffee as a major risk factor. Exploratory analyses on beverage temperature are inconclusive and require confirmation in prospective studies with standardized exposure assessment. This review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024562527).
This study indicates that higher dietary TAC intake is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer, and well-designed longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm these findings.
Jianying Zhou, Hai-Yan Jin, Shan Jing et al.· Frontiers in Nutrition· 0 citations
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