Consumption of high amounts of sugar is one of the potential concerns that it poses as a substitute for other nutrients as well as excess power intake. In a study conducted with preschool children, it was found that the intake of other nutrients decreased in those who had more than 25% of the total power from added sugar. In the research, it has been determined that those who have more than 10% of the power from easy sugar have less fiber and protein intake and higher fat consumption. (1)
Eating high sugary foods on time causes insulin resistance, that is, hyperinsulinism. Hyperinsulinism increases the level of free IGF-1 by decreasing the synthesis of insulin-equivalent growth factor (IGF) binding protein-1 and -2 (IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2). Free IGF-1 is quickly a potent mitogenic for almost all tissues. In other words, it causes cancer by increasing cell reproduction in an uncontrolled way (2-3).
Indeed, it has been shown that hyperinsulinism increases the number of pancreatic cells (4-5). In addition, the direct toxic effects of glucose on cells may also cause pancreatic cancer (6). IGF-1 is a hormone found in every human being and growth hormone shows its effect through IGF-1. In the absence of IGF, growth hormone cannot have any effect on growth.
We know that the growth hormone given to cows to increase milk production also increases IGF-1 when taken in excess. For this reason, we should not neglect this point when drinking milk other than dairy milk.
In an article published in the November 2006 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, this study in Sweden showed that pancreatic cancer, the most hopeless cancer to treat, was significantly more common in those fed sugary foods and beverages.
In this study conducted in the middle of 1995-1997, approximately 80,000 men and women were examined and pancreatic cancer developed in 131 individuals within this period (7). When the diets of the patients were examined, it was shown that pancreatic cancer was 90% more common in those who drank two or more sugary soft drinks (soda, cola, sweetened fruit juices, etc.) a day compared to those who did not drink soft drinks.
1. Evaluation of the Effect of Sugar Consumption on Body Mass Index in School Age Children, Eda KÖKSAL, Merve Şeyda KARAÇİL, Gazi University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Ankara, Turkey
2.Attia N , Tamborlane WV, Heptulla R et al. The metabolic syndrome and insulin-like growth factor I regulation in adolescent obesity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1998; 83: 1467–1471.
3.Gupta K, Krishnaswamy G, Karnad A, Peiris AN. Insulin: a novel factor in carcinogenesis. am. J. Med Sci 2002;323:140–145.
4. Henderson JR, Daniel PM, Fraser PA. The pancreas as a single organ: the influence of the endocrine upon the exocrine part of the gland. Gut1981; 22 : 158 –67.
5. Fisher WE, Boros LG, Schirmer WJ. Insulin promotes pancreatic cancer: evidence for endocrine influence on exocrine pancreatic tumors. J Surg Res1996; 63 :310 –3
6.Robertson RP. Chronic oxidative stress as a central mechanism for glucose toxicity in pancreatic islet beta cells in diabetes. J Biol Chem2004; 279 :42351 –4
7.Larsson SC, Bergkvist L, Wolk A. Consumption of sugar and sugar-sweetened foods and the risk of pancreatic cancer in a prospective study Am J Clin Nutr 2006 84: 1171-1176 .
