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The new year has already started bringing bad news to some; in this case we’re talking about those among us with a sweet tooth. According to a new study performed by researchers from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, diets rich in sugar increase the risk for cancer.
Mice on sugar diets
Although a number of other previous studies have proven that sugar does have an enhancing effect on cancer, the researchers from Texas wanted to see what types of sugar were worse to consume if you happen to be suffering from the cruel affliction that is cancer.
The trial focused on a number of mice, which were divided into 4 groups, all of them being fed various types of carcinogenic sucrose, as well as starch.
The mice were chosen specifically for their predisposition to developing cancer, as the study wasn’t meant to see if sugar would cause the sickness, but only if it would help start and spread it.
The mice were kept on the sugar-rich diet for 6 months, with the group on starch being the control group, as the substance was never associated with causing cancer in humans.
After 6 months had passed, the researchers check in on the mice’s health status.
As it turns out, around 30% of the mice fed a diet rich in starch were found to have developed tumors, while 50% to 58% of the others were found to have also developed cancer. Additionally, those from the other groups except the starch one, when they kept being fed the substance, had their tumors keep growing.
Sugar – the cancer enhancer?
Following the study, the researchers reached some pretty interesting, albeit dire results.
First of all, fructose, which is present in almost all edible products on the market, especially under the form of high fructose corn syrup, is a great cancer enhancer, as are most of the other types of sugar on the market except for starch.
Second of all, the reaction is so powerful, that not only do the tumors grow once the patient is consuming products rich in sugar, but the metastasis of the cancer cells is sped up.
It was proven that almost all types of sugar, but especially fructose, not only helps tumors grow at a much faster rate, but they also speed up the metastasis process, thus leading to a faster death.
Although the study was only observational, so the researchers couldn’t find out if the sugar affected the tumors directly or through another process, they are still advising people to reduce their sugar intakes, even those of fruit juice, especially if diagnosed with a possible tumor.
Image source: Wikimedia
