Carbohydrate quality may reduce risk of obesity-related cancers, study finds

A recent study published in the European Journal of Nutrition highlights the importance of quality, rather than quantity, of carbohydrate intake in the prevention of obesity-related cancers. The research, carried out in the framework cohort "Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra" (SUN), has analyzed the relationship between a previously defined carbohydrate quality index and the risk of developing this subject of tumors.

"To carry out this study, we followed 18,446 Spanish university graduates, with an age average of 38 years and for more than 13 years, all with no personal history of cancer," explains Dr. Estefanía Toledo, professor at the University'sdepartment of Preventive Medicine and Public Health and researcher at CIBEROBN and IdiSNA. "Of these, 269 cases of obesity-related cancer were confirmed."

To measure the carbohydrate quality index, the researchers established four previously defined criteria: high dietary fiber intake, low glycemic index, high ratio of whole-grain carbohydrates to total carbohydrates, and high ratio of solid carbohydrates to total carbohydrates. The main result of the research determined that higher carbohydrate quality incorporating these 4 dimensions sample an inverse association with obesity-related cancers.

"This prospective study conducted in a Mediterranean cohort has found an inverse association between a better overall quality of carbohydrate intake and tumor risk, so the results suggest that cancer prevention strategies should promote a higher quality of carbohydrate intake," says Dr. Toledo.

link to the publication: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00394-024-03438-3