Fructose Increases Cancer Cell Proliferation

[Xnn]

One more reason to avoid/minimize consumption of soft drinks and the like:

Carbohydrate metabolism via glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle is pivotal for cancer growth, and increased refined carbohydrate consumption adversely affects cancer survival. Traditionally, glucose and fructose have been considered as interchangeable monosaccharide substrates that are similarly metabolized, and little attention has been given to sugars other than glucose. However, fructose intake has increased dramatically in recent decades and cellular uptake of glucose and fructose uses distinct transporters. Here, we report that fructose provides an alternative substrate to induce pancreatic cancer cell proliferation. Importantly, fructose and glucose metabolism are quite different; in comparison with glucose, fructose induces thiamine-dependent transketolase flux and is preferentially metabolized via the nonoxidative pentose phosphate pathway to synthesize nucleic acids and increase uric acid production. These findings show that cancer cells can readily metabolize fructose to increase proliferation. They have major significance for cancer patients given dietary refined fructose consumption, and indicate that efforts to reduce refined fructose intake or inhibit fructose-mediated actions may disrupt cancer growth. Cancer Res; 70(15); 6368–76. ©2010 AACR.

http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/70/15/6368.abstract

Notice that the above study examined only pancreatic cancer cells. However, the mechanism could easily apply to numerous other types of cancers. Hopefully, more studies will follow and a clearer picture will emerge which could be used to quantify the health risks.

Too bad the government doesn't see fit to issue relevant public health warnings to counter all of the pro-fructose commercials being aired.

 

[Proton Soup]

there is at least one type of brain cancer that responds favorably to ketogenic diets. unfortunately, there's a lot of types of cancer, even in the same tissue.

 

[bobze]

One more reason to avoid/minimize consumption of soft drinks and the like:



http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/70/15/6368.abstract

Notice that the above study examined only pancreatic cancer cells. However, the mechanism could easily apply to numerous other types of cancers. Hopefully, more studies will follow and a clearer picture will emerge which could be used to quantify the health risks.

Too bad the government doesn't see fit to issue relevant public health warnings to counter all of the pro-fructose commercials being aired.

The abstract neglects to mention that glucose can just as easily be sent through the oxidative steps of the HMP (pentose phosphate) then through the non-oxidative steps to make purines for DNA synthesis.

I see their argument in principle (quickly dividing cells such as cancer need lots of purines etc), but it doesn't take into the complexity of a living individual, only a sheet of cells. Your sperm love fructose and cannot function without it--Hows that for anecdotal evidence for fructose consumption?


There seems to be rather scary trend as of late to really be pushing extrapolating in vitro studies to in situ/in vivo situations. Which not only makes for bad assumptions, but bad science in general. I have no idea what this trend seems to be increasing, but it something I have noted over the last 2 decades--Methinks we are finally feeling the effects of scientific illiteracy permeate academia from the greater society.

 

[Blenton]

Only another reason to not eat fruit!

 

[Xnn]

Only another reason to not eat fruit!

No; this maybe what the other poster was trying to get at about bad science.
For a variety of reasons, we know that fructose is not the healthiest sugar.
Its link to obesity is the primary problem, but there may be others as well such as cancer.

While it is common in many natural foods such as fruit, it's also an very cheap
product that is becoming an increasingly large portion of societies daily caloric intake.
While the positive benefits of fruit appear to outweigh all the negatives, there is
no reason to believe that this is true of soda pop and gummy bears.

Studies have found positive health benefits from consumption of fruit, despite their level of fructose.