Fructose Linked to Cancer Progression: Findings from an Animal Study

December 5, 2024 TruthUSA

Although the sweetener doesn’t directly fuel cancer, researchers indicate it impacts metabolism in ways that may encourage cancer growth.

Fructose, a type of sweetener, could potentially enhance the growth of cancer tumors, leading researchers to recommend that individuals battling cancer consider avoiding it as a strategy to combat the disease.

A recent study conducted by Washington University (WashU) in St. Louis suggests that dietary fructose may promote tumor growth in animal models of melanoma, breast cancer, and cervical cancer.

The results, published in Nature on Wednesday, show that while fructose does not directly fuel cancerous tumors, it alters metabolism in ways that facilitate cancer growth.

The researchers discovered that the liver converts fructose into nutrients that cancer cells can utilize, hinting at a potential new pathway for cancer treatment. “The notion that diet can influence cancer treatment is fascinating,” said lead researcher Gary Patti, a professor at WashU, in a press statement. “What you consume can be processed by healthy tissues and then transformed into substances that tumors can exploit.”

Previous Research Linked HFCS With Colorectal Cancer Risk

The study pointed out that high fructose intake increased the levels of circulating lipids in the bloodstream, which are essential components for the membranes of cancer cells.

“Initially, we expected tumor cells to metabolize fructose similarly to glucose, directly using its atoms to synthesize new cellular materials like DNA. We were taken aback that fructose was hardly metabolized in the tumor types we investigated,” explained study first author Ronald Fowle-Grider in the press release.

Patti remarked that while cancer cells have a strong preference for glucose, fructose consumption is on the rise in the American diet, primarily from the high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) found in processed foods. Table sugar consists of about 50 percent fructose and 50 percent glucose, whereas HFCS contains up to 55 percent fructose.

In a prior animal study conducted in 2021, HFCS was linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer in mice genetically predisposed to intestinal tumors, and it could potentially enhance the size and aggressiveness of colorectal tumors. This previous research also indicated that inhibiting the absorption of this sweetener by the body’s cells might counteract such growth.

Additionally, HFCS has been associated with various health risks, including:

Liver Disease: HFCS consumption can elevate the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), where excessive fat accumulates in the liver.
Diabetes: HFCS can reduce insulin sensitivity, a significant risk factor for Type 2 diabetes.
Heart Disease: HFCS has the potential to increase risk factors for heart disease, with the combination of fructose and glucose in HFCS possibly being more detrimental than fructose alone.

HFCS Is Most Common Fructose Used in Food Processing

As of 2021, the average American consumed 39.5 pounds of HFCS per person, which is a 1.2 percent decrease from the previous year. Nonetheless, this marks a reduction from the peak of 65.9 pounds per person recorded in 1999.

“Upon examining your pantry for items that contain high-fructose corn syrup, the prevalence of this ingredient across various products, not limited to sweets, is truly remarkable,” Patti remarked, underscoring the ubiquity of HFCS in many food items.

With rising fructose consumption over the years, researchers have noted a corresponding uptick in cancer rates among individuals under 50. Ongoing research is investigating potential correlations between these trends. Although no causal relationship has been definitively established, Patti cautioned individuals already diagnosed with cancer to consider reducing their fructose intake due to its potentially pro-cancer effects.

“Unfortunately, achieving this is often more challenging than it sounds,” he remarked in the press release.

The research may also pave the way for innovative therapeutic strategies that focus on modifying the metabolism of healthy cells as a method for treating cancer, rather than concentrating solely on the cancerous cells themselves, as per the findings of the WashU researchers.

The authors of the study are working in collaboration with clinical partners at WashU Medicine to investigate a clinical trial concerning the impact of dietary fructose in cancer treatment.

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