11 Aug Cadmium in Shellfish and Smoking Linked to Endometrial Cancer

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. McElroy

Jane McElroy, Ph.D.
Associate professor
Department of Family and Community Medicine
MU School of Medicine

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: More than 31,000 new cases of endometrial cancer are expected to be diagnosed in 2017. Through a five-year observational study, we found that women with increased levels of cadmium had an increased risk of endometrial cancer. Cadmium is a metal commonly found in foods such as kidneys, liver and shellfish as well as tobacco It’s a finding we hope could lead to new treatments or interventions to prevent the fourth most common cancer in women.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: I would highly discourage smoking. Smoking has been shown to more than double a person’s cadmium exposure. Also, I would recommend being attentive to your diet, as certain foods such as shellfish, kidney and liver can contain high levels of cadmium. You don’t necessarily need to cut these from your diet, but eat them in moderation. This is especially true if women have a predisposition to endometrial cancer, such as a family history, diabetes or obesity.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: Future research should explore the risks associated with cadmium exposure. 

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Response: The study, “Cadmium Exposure and Endometrial Cancer Risk: A Large Midwestern U.S. Population-based Case-control Study,” recently was published in PLOS ONE, an international, peer-reviewed and open-access publication. Research reported in this study was supported by the American Cancer Society and the National Science Foundation. The researchers have no conflicts of interest to declare related to this study. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funding agencies. 

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Citation: Jane A. McElroy, Robin L. Kruse, James Guthrie, Ronald E. Gangnon, J. David Robertson. Cadmium exposure and endometrial cancer risk: A large midwestern U.S. population-based case-control study. PLOS ONE, 2017; 12 (7): e0179360 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179360

Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.

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Last Updated on August 11, 2017 by Marie Benz MD FAAD