Dietary sucrose and starch affect dysplastic characteristics in carcinogen-induced aberrant crypt foci in rat colon

Antitumor activity of the β-glucan paramylon from Euglena against preneoplastic colonic aberrant crypt foci in mice

In the present study, the effects of β-glucans isolated from Euglena on the formation of preneoplastic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in the colon were examined in mice. Mice were fed a semi-purified AIN-93M diet containing cellulose or the same diet but with the cellulose replaced with β-glucans in the form of Euglena, paramylon, or amorphous paramylon, for 11 weeks. After consuming these dietary supplements for 8 days, half of the mice were intraperitoneally administered 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) at a dose of 20 mg kg(-1) body weight every week for 6 weeks. Among the DMH-treated groups, the paramylon- and amorphous paramylon-fed mice displayed a significantly lower number of ACF than the control group. Also, the liver weight of the paramylon group was markedly decreased compared with those of the control and Euglena groups, whereas the cecal content weight and fecal volume of the paramylon group were significantly increased. As for the levels of organic acids in the cecal contents, the paramylon group displayed significantly increased lactic acid levels compared with the control and Euglena groups. From these findings, although the mechanism of the ACF-inhibiting effects of paramylon remains unclear, it is considered that β-glucans, such as paramylon and its isomer amorphous paramylon, have preventive effects against colon cancer and are more effective against the condition than Euglena.

Insulin resistance and its contribution to colon carcinogenesis

The insulin resistance-colon cancer hypothesis, stating that insulin resistance may be associated with the development of colorectal cancer, represents a significant advance in colon cancer, as it emphasizes the potential for this cancer to become a modifiable disease. The fact that the incidence of insulin resistance has been increasing in the United States and much of the rest of the Western world where colon cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death makes the exploration of the interrelationship of these conditions a subject of high priority. Here, we review the salient features of insulin resistance, defined as impaired biological response to the action of insulin. Recent epidemiological studies, evaluating potential associations between colon cancer risk and diabetes mellitus, dietary intake and metabolic factors, and IGF levels in several clinical settings, provide strong support of the insulin resistance-colon cancer hypothesis (without establishing causality). Mechanistically, insulin resistance has been associated with hyperinsulinemia, increased levels of growth factors including IGF-1, and alterations in NF-kappaB and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling, which may promote colon cancer through their effects on colonocyte kinetics. It is a reasonable expectation that in the not too distant future, critical interventions to the already mapped molecular sequence of events, which link two apparently disparate entities, combined with lifestyle changes could abrogate the development of colon cancer.

IQ (2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline)-induced aberrant crypt foci and colorectal tumour development in rats fed two different carbohydrate diets

In most aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and colorectal tumour studies, chemical carcinogens not normally found in food have been used as initiators. In the present study the food-related compound, IQ (2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline), has been used. A diet high in refined carbohydrates has been associated with enhanced development of ACF and colorectal cancer in humans. The present study was designed as an integrated part of our earlier published ACF study and follows the animals until tumour development. The aim of the study was to investigate (1) the effect of a refined carbohydrate-rich diet on the development of IQ-induced ACF over time and (2) possible correlation between early and late ACF and/or colorectal tumour development. The study showed that a feeding regimen with continuous doses of 0.03% IQ in the diet for 14 weeks, followed by 32 weeks without IQ was able to induce tumours in the rat colon, liver, skin and Zymbal gland. The data demonstrate that a sucrose-rich diet enhance ACF development. A correlation between the outcome of early and late ACF was seen. However, as the tumour incidence of this study was very low it was not possible to obtain a meaningful correlation between ACF development and colorectal tumour incidence.

Insulin, insulin-like growth factors and colon cancer: a review of the evidence

Insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axes are major determinants of proliferation and apoptosis and thus may influence carcinogenesis. In various animal models, modulation of insulin and IGF-1 levels through various means, including direct infusion, energy excess or restriction, genetically induced obesity, dietary quality including fatty acid and sucrose content, inhibition of normal insulin secretion and pharmacologic inhibition of IGF-1, influences colonic carcinogenesis. Human evidence also associates high levels of insulin and IGF-1 with increased risk of colon cancer. Clinical conditions associated with high levels of insulin (noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and hypertriglyceridemia) and IGF-1 (acromegaly) are related to increased risk of colon cancer, and increased circulating concentrations of insulin and IGF-1 are related to a higher risk of colonic neoplasia. Determinants and markers of hyperinsulinemia (physical inactivity, high body mass index, central adiposity) and high IGF-1 levels (tall stature) are also related to higher risk. Many studies indicate that dietary patterns that stimulate insulin resistance or secretion, including high consumption of sucrose, various sources of starch, a high glycemic index and high saturated fatty acid intake, are associated with a higher risk of colon cancer. Although additional environmental and genetic factors affect colon cancer, the incidence of this malignancy was invariably low before the technological advances that rendered sedentary lifestyles and obesity common, and increased availability of highly processed carbohydrates and saturated fatty acids. Efforts to counter these patterns are likely to have the most potential to reduce colon cancer incidence, as well as cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus.

Dietary carbohydrates and the colonic microflora

The world of the colonic microflora has lain dormant in recent years, but is coming alive now with the advent of new chemical and molecular technologies for identifying bacteria, and the emergence of the concepts of biofilms, pro- and prebiotics. That bacteria play an essential role in barrier resistance to infection, ulcerative colitis and colorectal cancer is slowly becoming clear. New potential therapeutic avenues using bacteria should soon start to open up. Scientifically we lack an understanding of the mechanisms at work.