Eating high-cholesterol diet may up colon cancer risk: study
Team Udayavani, Jan 28, 2018, 12:06 PM IST
Los Angeles: People eating a high- cholesterol diet are at an increased risk of developing colon cancer, a study warns. Scientists discovered that boosting mice’s cholesterol levels spurred intestinal stem cells to divide more quickly, enabling tumours to form 100 times faster.
The study, published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, has identified a molecular pathway that could serve as a new drug target for colon cancer treatment. “We were excited to find that cholesterol influences the growth of stem cells in the intestines, which in turn accelerates the rate of tumour formation by more than 100- fold,” said Peter Tontonoz, from the University of California, Los Angeles in the US.
“While the connection between dietary cholesterol and colon cancer is well established, no one has previously explained the mechanism behind it,” Tontonoz said. The scientists increased cholesterol in the intestinal stem cells in some of the mice by introducing more of the substance into their diets.
In others, the researchers altered a gene that regulates phospholipids, the primary type of fat in cell membranes, which spurred the cells into producing more cholesterol on their own. The stem cells’ ability to multiply increased in both groups.
As the animals’ cholesterol levels rose, their cells divided more rapidly, causing the tissue lining their guts to expand and their intestines to lengthen. These changes significantly sped up the rate of tumour formation in their colons.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Include 4 hrs of physical activity, 8 hrs sleep in routine for optimal health, suggests study
Traffic noise can increase risk of cardiovascular disease: Study
Nearsightedness is at epidemic levels – and the problem begins in childhood
Study finds genetic basis for link between depression, heart disease
World Malaria Day: WHO calls for equitable health access
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Heatwave threat: Orange alert issued for 17 districts in Karnataka
PCB finalises Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi as venues for Champions Trophy
Indian markets rebound sharply on buying in bank stocks, firm global trends
‘Accidental Hindu’ should talk about atrocities committed by Mughals: Yogi Adityanath’s dig at Rahul
Include 4 hrs of physical activity, 8 hrs sleep in routine for optimal health, suggests study