Pancreatic cancer and exposure to dietary nitrate and nitrite in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study.

Fondness for processed meats is tied to higher risk of pancreatic cancer in men.

​This study aimed to determine the role habitual dietary exposure to nitrite and nitrate play in the development of pancreatic cancer. Researchers examined the eating habits and medical records of more than 1,500 men and women over a 10-year period. 

Researchers found out that regular intake of nitrites and nitrates from processed meats pushed up the risk of developing pancreatic cancer in men. This study provides evidence that diets promoting the consumption of processed meats may contribute to the onset of pancreatic cancer in men.