- AG Fitness Health
- December 29, 2023
Does Fructose Cause Cancer? AG Fitness
The human body needs a diverse portfolio of nutrients to keep functioning in a healthy manner. To maintain the right balance, it’s essential to intake the right proportions of all categories.
Same goes for fructose intake. Excess consumption can lead to conditions such as obesity and colorectal cancer. Studies have suggested the presence of large quantities of this sweetener in regular table sugar. Fruits have moderate amounts that are ingested by the intestinal cells. However, the increased use of sweeteners in multiple food items has led to a major rise in its consumption.
Is Cancer Growth Fueled by Fructose?
A study conducted in 2019 showed results stating that mice prone to developing intestinal tumors that were fed HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) could grow the size and rate of growth of colorectal tumors. The “why” behind this phenomenon remained a mystery. Newer studies thoroughly examined the changes at the cellular level in the intestines after consuming HFCS and found that the finger-like protrusions within the intestinal lining, villi, grew in length, maximizing the amount of nutrients that can be absorbed. The normal mice that were fed HFCS had villi that was 25%-40% longer than the ones who weren’t fed the sweetener.
As with the intestinal cells in mouse, researchers found that adding fructose to colorectal cancer cells helped the cells survive longer than cells that didn’t have fructose. Upon entry into the cells, fructose is converted to fructose -1-phosphate (F1P). High levels of F1P were observed in the presence of fructose. It also diminished the last stage of glycolysis, the glucose metabolism channel.
Further tests carried on in the mice did not lead to any conclusive judgement regarding substantial amounts of HFCS consumed by people due to the varying lengths of the intestine in mice and humans. However, researchers are still studying the possibility and are under the impression that high levels of fructose in the diet does play a role in increasing the chances of cancer.