Doubles the Growth Rate of Cancer Cells in the Body... Ingredient Also Used When Making Pasta

Convert Fructose in the Liver into 'Cancer Cell Fuel'
Fructose Accelerates Growth of Some Cancers Up to Twice as Fast

A study has found that 'fructose,' used in processed foods to add sweetness, can accelerate cancer cell growth by up to twice as fast.

On the 4th (local time), the world-renowned academic journal Nature published a paper suggesting that fructose can serve as fuel for cancer cells. The researchers pointed out that reducing 'fructose intake' could be a way to fight cancer.

Gary Patti, a professor of genetics and medicine at Washington University in St. Louis, USA, said, "The number of processed foods containing high-fructose corn syrup (liquid fructose) found in kitchens is astonishing," adding, "It is present in almost every product."

Fructose is known to be present not only in snacks, candies, beverages, and cakes but also in foods such as pasta sauces, salad dressings, and ketchup. Getty Images

Monosaccharides 'fructose' and 'glucose' share the same chemical formula (C6H12O6) but differ in molecular arrangement. Therefore, their metabolic processes differ. Glucose metabolism occurs throughout the body, whereas fructose metabolism takes place only in the liver and small intestine. Initially, the researchers expected tumor cells to metabolize fructose directly like glucose to create new cellular components such as DNA. However, the study confirmed that fructose is not a direct food source for cancer cells but is converted in the liver into nutrients that cancer cells can use.

The researchers also conducted experiments feeding animals with tumors a diet rich in fructose. The results showed that a fructose-rich diet promoted tumor growth without changing ▲body weight ▲fasting blood glucose ▲fasting insulin levels. Some tumors even grew more than twice as fast. Professor Patti pointed out, "Consuming a lot of fructose definitely had a very negative impact on tumor progression."

The researchers revealed that 100 years ago, the average annual fructose consumption per American was 2.27 to 4.53 kg, but it has increased 15-fold in the 21st century. They also found that during the same period of rapid fructose consumption increase, various types of cancer have become more common among the 'younger generation' under 50 years old. This suggests a possible link between increased fructose consumption and rising cancer incidence.

Professor Patti said, "Unfortunately, if you have cancer, it is advisable to consider avoiding fructose. But sadly, that is not as easy as it sounds," highlighting that fructose is widely used throughout the food industry. Although fructose naturally exists in fruits and honey, many people nowadays consume it in the form of artificially made liquid fructose. Fructose is also used in starch syrup added to side dishes and is known to be present not only in snacks, candies, beverages, and cakes but also in foods like pasta sauces, salad dressings, and ketchup.