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WELLNESS: Cancers crave carbs, B.C. research shows

New research from the BC Cancer Agency shows that a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet slows cancer growth and may actually prevent cancers from forming.

New research from the BC Cancer Agency shows that a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet slows cancer growth and may actually prevent cancers from forming. This is because the vast majority of tumours take-up and need more glucose, a simple carb, than normal cells to survive and grow.

According to a press release, Dr. Gerry Krystal, a scientist at the BC Cancer Agency, and his research team have been exploring how diet can impact the risk of and growth of cancers. In their new paper, published in the journal Cancer Research, the team compared an average Western diet to a low-carb, high-protein diet to examine both tumour growth and the incidence of tumours in mice predisposed to breast cancer.

"We found that tumours grew slower in mice that ate a low-carb, high-protein diet," said Dr. Krystal. "And, this diet not only prevented weight gain, it reduced cancer development and death in mice genetically predisposed to breast cancer."

Not only did the low-carb, high-protein diet slow tumour growth and the number of new cancer cases in these mouse studies, it also boosted the effectiveness of a number of existing, anti-cancer drugs, including the anti-inflammatory COX-2 inhibitor Celebrex.

In the study, each group received the same amount of daily calories but one group was exposed to high carbs/glucose (the Western diet) while the low-carb, high-protein group received the majority of its calories from protein, which boosts the ability of the immune system to kill cancer cells.

The mice on the Western diet ate 55% carbs, 23% protein and 22% fat - and experienced weight gain and increased cancer risk. Those on the low-carb, high-protein regimen consumed a daily diet of 15% carbs, 25% fat and 60% protein. The relatively low levels of fat are also important, since high fat consumption has been shown to increase cancer risk.

"We believe this diet has real potential to improve overall health, reduce cancer risk and provide some benefit to those living with cancer by slowing tumour growth," said Victor Ho, a PhD student in Dr. Krystal's lab and the lead author on the paper. "Our recently-published evidence certainly warrants further research in a human population through clinical trials."

Dr. Krystal added: "We were surprised to find that a simple change in diet could have such a significant impact on both cancer growth rate and overall risk. And, while the diet composition in our study may be challenging for most people to maintain, any changes people make in their diets to approach a lower level of carb and higher level of protein intake will likely have a beneficial effect, for preventing both obesity and cancer. However, people with type 2 diabetes should be cautious about raising protein levels in their diet, since this might cause kidney damage. They should consult with their doctors first."

To date, the findings have not been studied or established in human trials. Funding for the study was provided in part by the BC Cancer Foundation.