Study: Carbohydrates, Sugar Do Not Up Colorectal Cancer Risk

Diets high in carbohydrates and sugar do not appear to increase the risk of colorectal cancer, according to U.S. and Canadian researchers.

Because mounting evidence suggests a diet full of carbohydrates and sugary foods leads to higher levels of insulin in the blood, thereby increasing colorectal cancer risk, the researchers examined the association between dietary intake and colorectal cancer risk among 49,124 women participating in a Canadian breast cancer trial.

During an average 16.5 years of follow-up, there were 616 cases of colorectal cancer among these women.

But the researchers reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute that women who ate a high-starch diet did not have higher colorectal cancer risk, and added that they found no increase in colorectal cancer risk for women with a diet rich in sugary foods.

"Our data do not support the hypothesis that diets high in glycemic load, carbohydrates, or sugar increase colorectal cancer risk," the researchers concluded.

Other Sources: Journal of the National Cancer Institute