Carbohydrates and cancer: an overview of the epidemiological evidence

Abstract

Objective: To assess the epidemiological evidence on dietary carbohydrates and the risk of developing cancer. Method: Review of published studies, concentrating on recent systematic reviews, meta-analyses and large prospective studies. Conclusions: Carbohydrates have not been intensively investigated in epidemiological studies of diet and cancer. There is a moderately large amount of data on the possible association between dietary fibre and the risk for colorectal cancer; the results of studies have varied and no firm conclusion can be drawn, but the available data suggest that high intakes of dietary fibre possibly reduce the risk for colorectal cancer. There are also limited data which suggest that high intakes of sucrose might increase the risk for colorectal cancer and that high intakes of lactose might increase the risk for ovarian cancer. For other components of carbohydrates and other types of cancer, the available data are too sparse to draw even tentative conclusions. Further research is needed on the possible associations of carbohydrates with cancer risk.

Dietary glycaemic index, glycaemic load and breast cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…High body fatness contributes to an increased risk of postmenopausal, yet a reduced risk of premenopausal, breast cancer (Renehan et al, 2008). There has been a recent surge in research of the effect of GI and GL intake on breast cancer risk; however, results to date have been conflicting (Augustin et al, 2001;Key and Spencer, 2007;McCann et al, 2007). This may not be surprising, given the disparities between the biologically plausible mechanisms suggested above.…”

FAO/WHO Scientific Update on carbohydrates in human nutrition: conclusions

“…The possible links between high intakes of sucrose and colorectal cancer and high intakes of lactose and ovarian cancer were considered to be rather more tenuous. The link between obesity and several cancers was considered to be convincing (Key and Spencer, 2007), thus, nutritional determinants of obesity may be regarded as causally related to all obesity-related cancers. Key and Spencer (2007) noted that the World Cancer Research Fund Report (WCRF) on Diet and Cancer to be published in November 2007 was likely to generate more definitive data on nutritional determinants of cancer than had previously been available.…”

Signalisation et prédispositions métaboliques liées au cancer colorectal

“…Certains nutriments, comme les glucides, jouent un rôle particulier dans ce processus. En effet, une forte consommation de sucres augmente considérablement la probabilité de déclencher un cancer colorectal [17,18]. De plus, l'hyperglycémie est une des caractéristiques du syndrome SYNTHÈSE REVUES comme l'IGF-1 (insulin growth factor-1) accentuant par conséquent la prolifération cellulaire et l'apparition d'erreurs aberrantes de l'ADN, ce qui se traduit par la cancérisation du tissu [22].…”