Understanding Cancer Magazine
Learn to Win
Sugar and cancer
BY MARCIO ALVAREZ-SILVA
There are always many discussions about whether the use of sugar may trigger or stimulates the growth of malignant tumors.
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Firstly, it is important to note that the sugar, or sucrose, that we commonly use to sweeten food is not an element cataloged as a carcinogenic compound (a chemical capable of inducing the formation of malignant tumors). No relationship has ever been proven in this regard. It is, therefore, an irresponsible statement to admit that sucrose does somehow induce the formation of tumors.
In the light of science, sucrose does not cause the onset of cancer.
When the cancer sets in the patient, could the sucrose induce the tumor increase?
No, this is not possible.
Tumors are complex systems, where their growth depends on new blood vessels forming with the growth of a neoplastic cell mass.
The energy used for tumor progression does not derive directly from the consumption of sugar, but from various metabolic processes in the patient, since its homeostasis is entirely altered. The energy for the growth of malignant cells can come from the catabolism of carbohydrates and the lipid reserves or muscle tissue of the patient. This condition is observed mainly in patients with advanced malignancy and is known as cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome (CACS), which in addition to dramatic weight loss also results in anemia, asthenia, metabolic changes, and immunity failure.
The fact that the patient uses sugar will not influence the development of CACS since it is a condition resulting from tumor growth in the patient.
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Therefore, there is no correlation on the use of sugar in the development or progression of tumors.
Furthermore, a more caloric diet with the use of particular nutrients, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, glutamine, and arginine, together with the drugs to decrease the CACS is recommended. This diet should always be conducted along with the clinical staff who will assess the appropriate nutritional balance for the patient.
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Sugar (sucrose) has no relation to the formation or growth of tumors.
This concept is part of a myth about cancer. It is a disease that has much misleading information.
Feel free to comment or ask any questions.
This article was published in Understanding Cancer magazine, April 15, 2019.