High-fat diet leaves lasting gut changes
A high-fat diet can leave lasting changes in intestinal stem cells that persist even after returning to healthier eating habits, eldebate.com reported.
Approximately one in 25 people develops colon cancer during their lifetime. Obesity further increases the risk of developing this disease by 30% to 50%.
Intestinal stem cells maintain the gut by producing new cells. When these stem cells multiply out of control, tumors can form, according to a study publicado in the journal Stem Cell Reports.
Miyeko Mana led a research team that fed a group of mice a high-fat Western diet for approximately six months. Researchers compared these animals to a control group eating a low-fat diet.
High-fat diet increases mouse weight and stem cell growth
Mice on the high-fat diet gained more weight and developed a higher number of intestinal stem cells that multiplied at a faster rate. Animals with a genetic predisposition to intestinal cancer experienced even more severe effects, growing larger and more numerous tumors. The high-fat diet also triggered DNA modifications in the intestinal stem cells. While cell behavior returned to normal after the mice resumed a low-fat diet, some genetic changes lingered. Roughly 18% of those modifications remained active after four weeks.
Long-term risks after repeated exposure
When the mice resumed a high-fat diet, their intestinal stem cells reacted with greater speed and intensity compared to animals encountering the diet for the first time. Repeated high-fat exposure worsened tumor development in genetically susceptible mice, producing larger and more numerous tumors than a single exposure period. Maintaining healthy eating habits helps regulate intestinal stem cell growth, according to the findings. A low-fat diet can contribute to lowering the overall risk of colon cancer.
Common questions about intestinal health
How long do genetic changes from a high-fat diet last?
Researchers observed that approximately 18% of the diet-induced genetic modifications in intestinal stem cells remained present four weeks after the mice returned to a low-fat diet.
What role do intestinal stem cells play in cancer?
Intestinal stem cells normally generate new tissue to keep the gut healthy. When these cells begin multiplying uncontrollably due to altered behavior or mutations, they can form tumors.
How much does obesity increase colon cancer risk?
Obesity is linked to an estimated 30% to 50% increase in the risk of developing colon cancer over the course of a lifetime.