New study reveals role of fructose in cancer development

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Ingredient A flagship of ultra-processed products and sodas for its sweetening power, among other things, fructose feeds tumors and accelerates the development of cancers. This is in any case what reveals a recent study from the University of Washington, published in the journal Nature on December 4.

Naturally present in fruits, fructose has long been unsuspected. So much so that it is has become a staple in the food industry, especially in the form of corn syrup. A study by the University of Washington reveals that, although seemingly harmless, this sugar insidiously accelerates the development of cancers, without even affecting weight. or blood sugar.

The researchers observed that the impact of fructose was not directly manifested at the level of cancer cells. This sugar is first transformed by the liver into lipids, essential for tumor growth. As reported by Futura Sciences, here is what Gary Patti, professor at the University of Washington, explains: “When we think of tumors, we tend to focus on the food components that they directly consume. You put something in your body, and then you imagine that the tumor absorbs it. But humans are complex. What you put in your body can be consumed by healthy tissues, and then converted into something else that tumors use.”

These lipids, including lysophosphatidylcholines, are then released into the bloodstream, fueling the growth of cancer cells. And this phenomenon seems to occur for all types of cancers.

While experts agree that added fructose could be particularly harmful, manufacturers continue to enrich their products with it. Its consumption has increased 15-fold in the United States, and the increase in cancers in people under 50 is worrying, particularly in industrialized countries. Are we fueling our own health crisis ?

By mirror, the study also opens a door to new therapies. Understanding how fructose stimulates tumor growth could make it possible to better target the metabolism of healthy cells, particularly those in the liver, and ultimately prevent them from transforming fructose. The best, of course, is to consume much less, whether to prevent or cure.

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