Natural sugar may help cancer spread, study finds
A new study has revealed that fructose (natural sugar) consumed as part of the daily diet may help certain types of cancer spread throughout the body.
According to the study published in the scientific journal Nature Aging, cancer cells that survive chemotherapy do not remain inactive. Instead, they release fructose which activates other cancer cells allowing them to leave their original location and spread to other parts of the body.
Experts say that excessive consumption of sugary drinks and beverages containing high levels of fructose may also increase the risk of cancer spreading even in patients who are not undergoing chemotherapy.
The study further found that fructose causes changes inside cancer cells that make it easier for them to move from one part of the body to another.
The research was conducted on ovarian cancer but experts believe that a similar process could also occur in pancreatic, colorectal and liver cancers.