Pancreatic Cancer Causes, Symptoms & Survival Rate: Low Vitamin D Linked to Higher Risk, Study Shows

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A new study showed that those who lack Vitamin D in countries with little sunlight may have a higher risk for pancreatic cancer.

The study was published last April 30 on The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and conducted by California University's San Diego School of Medicine. It reports that pancreatic cancer risk is higher in countries that get the least amount of sunlight due to high-latitude and heavy cloud cover.

"People who live in sunny countries near the equator have only one-sixth of the age-adjusted incidence rate of pancreatic cancer as those who live far from it. The importance of sunlight deficiency strongly suggests - but does not prove - that vitamin D deficiency may contribute to risk of pancreatic cancer," according to Cedric F. Garland of University of California, one of the authors of the study.

"If you're living at a high latitude or in a place with a lot of heavy cloud cover, you can't make vitamin D most of the year, which results in a higher-than-normal risk of getting pancreatic cancer."

Although there are foods that naturally contain Vitamin D, such as salmon, cheese, egg yolk, beef, and tuna, the researchers said that we also need the vitamin, specifically ultraviolet B radiation, which our body naturally produces when exposed to sunlight.

According to WebMD, Garland and his team previously associated Vitamin D deficiency with breast and colorectal cancer risk. In their new study, the researchers analyzed information from more than 100 countries and factored out possible data that may affect the study such as obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption.

Pancreatic cancer is the seventh most deadly type of cancer and twelfth most common all over the world, the researchers said.

It is currently unclear what causes pancreatic cancer. However, some factors according to Mayo Clinic can increase the risk such as smoking, personal or family history of pancreatic cancer, diabetes, pancreatitis, excess body weight, and being African-American.

There are no known signs and symptoms for pancreatic cancer in its early stages. During its advanced stage, some signs and symptoms may include jaundice, blood clots, weight loss, appetite loss, depression, and upper abdominal pain. If you do experience some of the conditions mentioned above, then you should visit your doctor. There are many similar signs and symptoms for other diseases as well.

According to Pancreatic.org, the survival rates for pancreatic cancer are: 20 percent for the one-year relative survival rate and over six percent for the five-year rate.