Latest news with #cancerrisk
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists Just Linked the Keto Diet with Higher Cancer Risk—Here's What to Know
Key Points The ketogenic diet is a very low-carb, high-fat diet often used for weight loss. This study suggests the keto diet may increase the risk of all cancers. Following an anti-inflammatory diet may help reduce the risk of cancer by lowering disease still holds the top spot for causes of death in the U.S., but cancer isn't far behind, with each condition claiming the lives of over 600,000 Americans every year. And while researchers are more certain about how to prevent heart disease through lifestyle changes, cancer remains a bit more elusive. Scientists are continually searching for ways to prevent cancer and increase survival rates for those with the disease. Researchers from China analyzed data from a long-running U.S. survey called the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) collected between 2001 and 2018. They wanted to know what association, if any, exists between a ketogenic diet and cancer. They published their findings in Nutrition and Cancer—let's break down what they found. How Was This Study Conducted? For this analysis, almost 44,000 participants from the NHANES met the researchers' criteria. The participants were fairly evenly split between genders, but did skew slightly more female. Participants were at least 20 years of age. All the data were self-reported, including history of cancer, dietary information and demographics. To determine if a participant had a history of cancer, they answered yes or no to the question, 'Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had cancer or a malignancy of any kind?' Dietary intake was calculated using the average of two 24-hour dietary recalls, which researchers used to calculate each participant's dietary ketogenic ratio (DKR). The DKR is a calculation that indicates the likelihood of someone entering ketosis based on their macronutrient ratio. Ketosis occurs when carbohydrates, the body's preferred source of energy, are not available. In this case, the body turns to fat as an energy source, and then the liver converts fat into ketone bodies, which can also be used as an energy source. Based on their DKRs, participants were placed into one of four quartiles, with Q4 having the highest DKRs and Q1 having the lowest. Demographics that would be adjusted for during statistical analyses included age, sex, ethnicity, income and education levels, marital status, BMI, smoking status and medical history. What Did This Study Find? Researchers found that as DKR increased, so did the risk of cancer. But not just one or two types of cancer—all cancers. In other words, they found a significant association between the keto diet and the risk of developing cancer. While these study authors note that there are likely some short-term benefits of a keto diet, the long-term risks may outweigh the benefits. Why keto may raise cancer risk needs to be explored further, but researchers provide a few possible explanations. First, they note that ketones have been implicated in increasing oxidative stress, causing cellular damage, which increases the risk of developing cancer. They also point out that while cancer cells typically prefer to use glucose as an energy source, research suggests that some cancer cells can utilize ketones as an alternative energy source to survive and proliferate. In addition to these findings, these researchers also found that as the degree of ketosis increased, there was a notable decline in the antioxidant properties of vitamins A, C, and E, as well as trace elements such as manganese, zinc, and selenium. This aligns with numerous studies that have consistently shown deficiencies in antioxidant vitamins and trace elements can substantially increase the risk of all cancers. One significant limitation of this study is that participants' ketosis levels were not directly measured with bloodwork. Also, information was all self-reported, which leaves room for error and bias. This includes cancer diagnoses, which might have been more accurate had they used participants' medical records. How Does This Apply to Real Life? While a ketogenic diet does have some legitimate medical uses—like reducing seizures in children with epilepsy—beyond that, it's mainly used to lose weight. The problem is following it long-term—let's face it, one can only eat so much cheese and bacon. And while all foods can fit into a healthy eating pattern, it's important to eat a variety of foods to ensure your body gets the nutrients it needs. Though this study can't say that a keto diet causes cancer, based on this data, there appears to be a strong connection between the two, and more research should be done. Since we know there's also a correlation between chronic inflammation and cancer, eating an anti-inflammatory diet may help reduce cancer risk. An anti-inflammatory diet focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats. Besides eating a varied, balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight, the American Cancer Society recommends engaging in regular physical activity, managing your stressors, getting plenty of quality sleep, avoiding or limiting alcohol and not smoking to help lower your cancer risk. Our Expert Take This study suggests a connection between the ketogenic diet and cancer risk. While keto may help you lose weight, the risks may outweigh the benefits. If you feel better reducing carbs, there are healthier and more moderate ways to do so that don't go to keto extremes. To get started, choose from our low-carb, high-protein dinners that come together in just 30 minutes or our high-protein, low-carb breakfasts to help you lose weight. If cancer prevention is top of mind, taking a holistic approach may not only help prevent cancer but also other diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. Include plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, lean proteins and healthy fats in your diet. In addition, move your body often, deal with what's stressing you out, get enough quality sleep and spend time with loved ones. Read the original article on EATINGWELL
Daily Mail
13-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
The little-known painful digestive problem linked to fat jabs and heartburn tablets that could affect millions – but is too often missed by GPs
Millions of people with a debilitating digestive problem are being fobbed off by GPs, putting them at risk of cancer, experts claim. The condition, SIBO, which stands for small intestine bacterial overgrowth, is soaring in the UK, thought to be due in part to widespread overuse of heartburn tablets. The increasing number of patients taking weight-loss injections such as Mounjaro and Wegovy have also been blamed.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Thornton-Cleveleys: New tests find raised carcinogen levels
Further testing has shown shown raised levels of a potentially cancer-causing substance near to a chemical plant, a council has said. Wyre District Council said samples of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) were found in an area in the south east of the Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone in was used at the former ICI site between the 1950s and 2012.A council spokesperson said it recognised the news was "likely to cause concern for many people", adding that further testing was to take place in the autumn. AGC Chemicals Europe, which took over part of the ICI plant, has said it stopped using Perfluoroalkyl and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in 2012, and that 40 years of monitoring showed no "significant impact" from authority said scientists had analysed the soil samples taken from within 500m of the Hillhouse Technology Enterprise council said analysis of the soil samples "confirmed that more detailed sampling is now required in an area to the south east of the Hillhouse site".They said it was important to note that no part of the area had been formally determined as contaminated, adding that finding answers quickly was an "absolute priority".Last year, after previous testing, Wyre District Council warned people living near to the site not to eat fruit and vegetables grown in local soil.A recent BBC investigation into concerns about PFOA in the area heard from residents who feared their health may have been affected by the presence of the chemical in the local environment. Drop-in session The majority of the 63 locations tested within 500 metres of Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone were considered lower priority for further sampling at this time, the council are to be sent to residents whose properties were sampled as part of the advice from the UK Health Security Agency is that local residents should follow the usual hygiene precautions by washing hands thoroughly after working or playing in the garden or allotment, especially when in contact with soil and before handling food or Food Standards Agency advises residents to wash and peel any produce grown in the soil within 1km of Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone to remove any soil or dust before eating.A drop-in session for residents to ask questions about phase two of the investigation is taking place at Thornton-Cleveleys Football Club between 16:00 and 19:00 BST on Wednesday 23 July. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
The Sun
09-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
New fat jabs warning over ‘increased risk of cancer – as experts fear they ‘stop common medication working'
WEIGHT loss jabs could prevent a medication taken by millions of women from working - and increase patients' risk of cancer. The British Menopause Society said the jabs could cause hormone imbalance in women taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT), particularly for those with obesity, putting them 'at increased risk of womb cancer'. It follows warnings to women on weight loss medications to take effective contraception, as the jabs could render the pill less effective. That's because weight loss drugs Wegovy and Mounjaro - as well as diabetes jab Ozempic - can delay the absorption of pills taken orally, as well slowing down the passage of food through the gut. Guidance suggests women taking HRT in pill form may also be at risk. The British Menopause Society (BMS) told doctors to closely monitor menopausal women on HRT who are also using weight-loss jabs. The treatment tops up the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which dip to low levels as the menopause approaches. Data from 2023-24 showed that 2.6 million women in England rely on the drugs to alleviate hot flushes, night sweats, difficulty sleeping and mood changes. "During the last two years, since semaglutide and tirzepatide [the active ingredients in Wegovy and Mounjaro] received licenses for weight loss, there has been an increase in uptake of these medications through private clinics, while NHS prescribing is limited to specialist weight management services," the BMS guidance stated. "There are no current data available about numbers of women receiving HRT concurrently with semaglutide or tirzepatide." The most common form of HRT is a progesterone pill alongside a skin patch or gel to deliver oestrogen, but some people opt for a combined pill. Progesterone balances out the effects of oestrogen, which on its own stimulates the growth of the womb lining, and can cause 'abnormal cells and cancer' to grow. Women taking fat jabs need 'effective contraception' - as health chiefs warn of serious harm to unborn babies The menopause experts expressed concern over the loss of the progesterone's protective effect on the womb as a result of weight loss jabs. They recommended that doctors move women taking progesterone orally to an intrauterine device, such as a Mirena coil, or increase their dose of progesterone. Prof Annice Mukherjee, a consultant endocrinologist and member of the society's medical advisory council, who led on the guidance, told The Telegraph that a hormone imbalance could put women 'at increased risk of womb cancer' - particularly if they are obese. 'Oestrogen is almost always given through the skin for HRT in women living with obesity, but progesterone is frequently given as a tablet, and that formulation is thought to be the safest route for women who have complicated health issues,' she said. 'If we then start one of these injectable weight-loss drugs, then you're preferentially stopping absorption of the progestogen that's coming in orally, but you're allowing plenty of the oestrogen through the skin. 'The rules are very clear that if you give a very high dose of oestrogen and you don't give enough progesterone, however that happens, you're putting that woman at risk of womb cancer,' she said. Prof Mukherjee said there was currently a 'culture of putting women on very high doses of oestrogen', which can make the womb lining thicken. 'It's like having a lawn in a woman's womb. Oestrogen makes the lawn grow. Progestogen cuts the lawn. But if it's not being cut, it grows thicker, and then you can get abnormal cells and cancer.' Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines. But she also stressed that the biggest risk factor for womb cancer was obesity - meaning that on the whole, weight loss jabs can cut the risk of disease. 'These drugs reduce the risk of cancer,' Prof Mukherjee said. 'But if they are prescribed to a woman who's on oestrogen through the skin, and she might already have womb thickening because she's living with obesity, and she's not absorbing the progesterone because she's been put on a weight-loss injection, she's potentially getting loads of oestrogen on top of her thickened womb lining, and that could potentially unmask cancers that are there or drive an early cancer to a more advanced stage.' The BMS put together the guidelines after calls from GPs for advice to give to patients. Dr Janet Barter, the president of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, told The Telegraph that weight loss jabs can cause side effects such as "vomiting and severe diarrhoea in some patients'. 'Obviously this could render any medication, such as HRT tablets or oral contraception, ineffective if there hasn't been enough time for them to be fully absorbed,' she said. 'If these side-effects are occurring, then people should discuss the matter with their doctor or specialist clinician to find the combination of drugs that's right for them.' Sun Health has contacted Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly - the makers of Wegovy and Mounjaro - for comment. It follows warnings from the Medicines and Healthcare products Agency (MHRA) that GLP-1 weight loss drugs could reduce the absorption of contraceptives, due to the fact they slow down the emptying of the stomach. The watchdog also said the jabs should not be used during pregnancy, while trying to conceive or breastfeeding, over fears they could lead to miscarriage or birth defects. medicine could cause harm to the baby.' Dr Bassel Wattar, a consultant gynaecologist and medical director of clinical trials at Anglia Ruskin University, told The Sun: 'It's not the medication itself, but the weight loss that helps regulate a woman's hormones allowing her ovaries to function properly again. 'Pregnancy is more of a happy side effect.'
Daily Mail
01-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Physical hobby loved by millions shockingly linked to colon cancer in young people for first time
It's an activity loved by the health-conscious, but long distance running might raise the risk of colon cancer in young people. A study has found that 35 to 50 years old who regularly run marathons are more likely to develop precancerous tumors in their colon, precursors of the disease. Your browser does not support iframes.
