The associations between fruit and vegetable consumption and pancreatic cancer risk are inconclusive. We conducted a meta-analysis of prospective studies to investigate the associations. The search was conducted systemically using the PubMed and EMBASE databases up to March 2017. Relative risks and 95% confidence intervals for the highest versus lowest consumption and dose-response analyses were assessed. Subtype and subgroup analyses were performed. Twelve studies were eligible. The summary relative risks of the highest versus lowest consumption were 0.95 (0.80-1.12) for total fruits and vegetables without heterogeneity (I2 = 0%, P = 0.44), 0.96 (0.82-1.12) for fruits without low heterogeneity (I2 = 37%, P = 0.12) and 0.94 (0.84-1.06) for vegetables with low heterogeneity (I2 = 9%, P= 0.36). Dose-response analyses also showed no significantly inverse associations for each 100 g/day increase; the summary relative risks were 1.00 (0.98-1.02) for total fruits and vegetables, 1.01 (0.97-1.05) for fruits and 1.00 (0.97-1.03) for vegetables. The results of subtype analyses were consistent with the fruit and vegetable analyses; the relative risks were 0.97 (0.80-1.17) for citrus fruit without low heterogeneity (I2 = 39%, P = 0.15) and 0.89 (0.76-1.05) for cruciferous vegetables without low heterogeneity (I2 = 14%, P= 0.32). In conclusion, this meta-analysis does not support significant associations between fruit and vegetable consumption and pancreatic cancer risk.
Keywords: fruit; meta-analysis; pancreatic cancer; risk; vegetable.