High fructose corn syrup, or HFCS, may be partially responsible for the high rates of obesity and Type 2 diabetes seen in industrialized nations, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, reports the April 2004 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." High fructose corn syrup is a processed form of sugar derived from corn that is often added to sugary snacks and soft drinks. This sugar may play a role in the development of pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic Cancer
The two chief roles of the pancreas is to produce digestive enzymes and to manufacture the blood sugar-stabilizing hormone insulin. More than 37,000 adults in the United States receive a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer every year, reports the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Like many organ cancers, pancreatic cancer develops after a pancreatic cell replicates abnormally. If the cell continues to replicate, a tumor may form. Risk factors for pancreatic cancer include family history of the disease, smoking, poor dietary habits, diabetes and obesity.
Evidence
A research team from Karolinska Institute set out to see whether consumption of added sugar in the diet correlated with pancreatic cancer. Their research was published in the November 2006 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." The scientists discovered that consumption of two or more sugary soft drinks per day, often sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, was tied to a 93 percent greater risk of pancreatic cancer compared to those that seldom consumed soft drinks. However, no research has specifically looked into high fructose corn syrup intake on pancreatic cancer risk.
Connection
The aforementioned "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" study notes that nearly all forms of sugar, including high fructose corn syrup, cause a rapid and steep rise in blood glucose and insulin levels. High levels of insulin on pancreatic cells may promote growth and division of precancerous cells, promoting their growth and proliferation. Also, a test tube study published in the August 2010 issue of "Cancer Research" notes that pancreatic cancer cells prefer to use fructose as fuel, promoting cancer cell growth.
Warnings
Although high fructose corn syrup may play a role in prostate cancer, it's not yet clear whether high fructose corn syrup or a sugary diet in general increases pancreatic cancer risk. Other strategies for reducing pancreatic cancer risk include achieving a healthy body weight for you, consuming colorful fruits and vegetables regularly and avoiding tobacco.
References
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Consumption of High-Fructose Corn Syrup in Beverages May Play a Role in the Epidemic of Obesity; G. Bray. et al.; April 2004
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Pancreatic Cancer Overview
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Consumption of Sugar and Sugar-Sweetened Foods and the Risk of Pancreatic Cancer in a Prospective Study; S. Larsonn, et al.; November 2006
- "Cancer Research"; Fructose Induces Transketolase Flux to Promote Pancreatic Cancer Growth; H. Liu, et al.; July 2010
Member Comments