Title
Physical activity, energy restriction, and the risk of pancreatic cancer: Prospective study in the Netherlands
Author
Heinen, M.M.
Verhage, B.A.J.
Goldbohm, R.A.
Lumey, L.H.
van den Brandt, P.A.
Publication year
2011
Abstract
Background: Because of their influence on insulin concentrations, we hypothesized that both physical activity and energy restriction may reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer. Objective: We examined the associations between physical activity, proxies for energy restriction, and pancreatic cancer risk. Design: The Netherlands Cohort Study consisted of 120,852 individuals who completed a baseline questionnaire in 1986. After 13.3 y of follow-up, 408 cases were available for analysis. Self-reported information on physical activity was collected. Three indicators were used as proxies for energy restriction: father's employment status during the Economic Depression (1932-1940) and place of residence during the World War II years (1940-1944) and the Hunger winter (1944-1945). Results: For past sports activities, we observed a significantly decreased risk of pancreatic cancer (HR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.64, 0.99). Proxies for energy restriction were not related to pancreatic cancer risk. When the results for energy restriction were stratified by height, a significant multiplicative interaction was observed for the Economic Depression period (P = 0.002). Shorter individuals (height less than the sex-specific median adult height) with an unemployed father during the Economic Depression period had a significantly lower cancer risk (HR: 0.31; 95% CI: 0.14, 0.66) than did taller individuals with an employed father. No significant interactions were observed for exposure to energy restriction during the World War II years and the Hunger winter. Conclusions: Our results suggest a modestly decreased risk of pancreatic cancer associated with past sports activity. With respect to proxies for energy restriction, our findings suggest that shorter individuals exposed to energy restriction during adolescence may have a reduced risk, whereas taller individuals may not. © 2011 American Society for Nutrition.
Subject
Human
LS - Life Style
BSS - Behavioural and Societal Sciences
Health
adult
aged
article
body height
cancer risk
disease association
employment
energy
energy restriction
female
follow up
human
major clinical study
male
Netherlands
pancreas cancer
physical activity
prospective study
questionnaire
self report
sport
war
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:77b14837-da8d-42f8-bcd0-228bb347f4cc
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.110.007542
TNO identifier
442978
ISSN
0002-9165
Source
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 94 (5), 1314-1323
Document type
article