A recent discovery by scientists at the University Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid provides an explanation of how excess sugar can trigger cancer development.1

The scientists, led by Dr Custodia García-Jimenez, studied how the intestine responds to sugar. When sugar is ingested, cells in the intestine respond by releasing a hormone called GIP. This in turn increases insulin release from the pancreas, a hormone that controls blood sugar level. The release of GIP is dependent on a protein called β-catenin, and increased activity of β-catenin is associated with many forms of cancer. The research team demonstrated that high (but not normal) sugar levels trigger accumulation of β-catenin in the cell nucleus. In the nucleus, β-catenin can interact with other proteins to activate genes that trigger cell proliferation. This process can ultimately lead to cancer.

Dr García-Jimenez said: 'We were surprised to realise that changes in our metabolism caused by dietary sugar impact on our cancer risk. We are now investigating what other dietary components may influence our cancer risk. Changing diet is one of the easiest prevention strategies that can potentially save a lot of suffering and money'.

The implications of these findings are vast. In 2011, the World Health Organisation named diabetes and cancer among the top ten causes of death in the developed world and one in ten adults suffer diabetes worldwide. These findings emphasise the importance of a healthy diet to prevent disease, and may also direct creation of novel therapies to combat cancer.