A new animal study out of MD Anderson Cancer Center looked at the impact of different sugars on breast tumor development. They found that both sucrose and fructose stimulated tumors, and that in those animals ingesting fructose or high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), there was a higher rate of lung metastasis.
Researchers noted that both sucrose and fructose (including HFCS) stimulated production of 12- LOX and 12-HETE in breast tumor cells, causing tumors to increase in size.
12-HETE and 12-LOX (image below) are pro-inflammatory derivatives produced from the omega 6 pro-inflammatory fatty acid arachidonic acid (AA). As I’ve mentioned in other blogs on this site, one potent mechanism driving sugar to stimulate production of AA-inflammatory compounds is through the upregulation of insulin, which increases the production of AA. Further, sugar/insulin can indirectly stimulate phospholipase A2 (PLA2), the enzyme that cleaves AA from the cell membrane toward production of inflammatory compounds. We can also look to the gut, and damage there (from antibiotics and other meds, stress, poor dietary choices including high sugar, etc.) driving into circulation various compounds such as LPS- which can also act on PLA2.
The take-home? Reduce sugar intake in all forms, but perhaps most importantly, as excess fructose/HFCS and especially when accompanied by a highly processed pro-inflammatory refined grain-based diet. And take it a step further by tending not just to diet, but your whole being…