More worrisome news about high-fructose corn syrup. Researchers found that high fructose corn syrup actually speeds up and fuels the growth of cancer tumors in animals who already have cancer.
While this study was done in mice (with either breast cancer, melanoma, or cervical cancer), it is actually a scary finding because so many foods that Americans ingest daily contain high-fructose corn syrup. It is a sugar derived from corn starch and found in many foods: baked goods, soda, fast food, cereals, ice cream, etc. If you see it in an ingredient list, it means it is an ultra-processed food.
Bottom line: Read food ingredient lists and try to avoid eating foods with high-fructose corn syrup.
Excerpts from US Right To Know: High-fructose corn syrup fuels tumor growth in animals with cancer, a new study shows
High-fructose corn syrup, a sweetener commonly used in soda and ultra-processed foods, accelerates cancer tumor growth via the liver, according to research published last week [Dec. 4, 2024] in Nature.
High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a sugar derived from corn starch. High fructose intake has been shown to contribute to the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obesity, both of which are associated with systemic inflammation and altered lipid metabolism (the way the body processes fats). It has also been linked to diabetes, heart disease, and colorectal cancer.
Cancer occurs when abnormal cells multiply uncontrollably. But cancer cells (as well as healthy cells) can’t readily use fructose directly, even at high levels, to fuel their growth due to the lack of an enzyme that can efficiently process it.
This study, conducted on mice with melanoma, breast cancer, and cervical cancer, highlights one way in which high levels of fructose consumption promote tumor growth. In a process called interorgan lipid transfer (when fats move between organs and tissues in the body), the liver makes fructose more available to cancer cells by turning it into nutrients in the blood they can use.
Liver converts fructose to speed tumor growth
While the whole body metabolizes glucose, fructose is almost entirely metabolized by the small intestine and liver. Liver cells, unlike cancer cells, can convert fructose into a type of fat molecule (lipid) called lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), which enters the bloodstream, the researchers say.
Cancer cells can then take up the available LPCs and use them to make other important molecules called phosphatidylcholines (PCs). These are critical for creating cell membranes, which are needed for cell division and tumor growth.
To conduct the study, the researchers added high-fructose corn syrup to the diet of the mice with cancer. It significantly increased their LPC blood levels and accelerated tumor growth, without causing weight gain or insulin problems. Similar effects have been found with zebrafish, which also share genetic similarities with humans, the researchers say.
“Over the past few years, it’s become clear that many cancer cells prefer to take up lipids rather than make them,” Patti says. “The complication is that most lipids are insoluble in blood and require rather complex transport mechanisms. LPCs are unique. They might provide the most effective and efficient way to support tumor growth.”