Men with untreated gum disease at 64% higher risk for pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic Cancer Linked To Poor Oral Hygiene
American scientists have discovered a link between gum disease, which is usually caused by poor oral hygiene, and pancreatic cancer in men.
“Our study provides the first strong evidence that periodontal disease may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer,” said Dr Dominique Michaud of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, who led the research.
The study is published in the latest issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Dr Minaud and colleagues examined the periodontal disease data from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS), which began collecting health related data on a cohort of over 51,000 men recruited from a range of health professions in 1986.
They found that men with a history of periodontal disease had a 64 per cent increased risk of pancreatic cancer than men with no such history. And increased severity of periodontitis, for example with recent tooth loss, had the greatest risk. No significant links were found between other types of oral health problems such as tooth decay and cancer of the pancreas.
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