Refined carbs linked to throat cancer
Findings show rise in obesity rates also parallels rise of the disease
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NEW YORK - The rising incidence of throat cancer, also referred to as cancer of the esophagus or esophageal adenocarcinoma, may be related to Americans' increasing intake of total and refined carbohydrates and subsequent rise in obesity rates.
"The similarity in these trends gives further evidence for the association of carbohydrate intake, obesity, and related measures with cancer," said Dr. Cheryl L. Thompson.
She and colleagues caution, however, that such observations do not necessarily reflect individual risk for esophageal adenocarcinoma.
The researchers, all associated with Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals of Cleveland, in Ohio, compared National Cancer Institute data for esophageal adenocarcinoma from 1973-2001 and food consumption information from the National Nutrient Data Bank from 1909-1997.
The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma increased over the review period and "strongly correlated" with carbohydrate consumption. This cancer is also known to be strongly associated with gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), which, in turn, is associated with obesity and a high carbohydrate intake, the investigators report in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
By contrast, they noted a decrease in the rates of squamous cell cancer of the esophagus, which is more closely associated with smoking rather than reflux disease and obesity.
The researchers found a trend toward higher intakes of refined carbohydrates, those with more starch and lower nutrient levels than carbohydrates obtained from whole grains and minimally processed foods.
These findings highlight the importance of limiting refined carbohydrates in the American diet, the investigators note. Additional research is needed to assess individual risk from high intake of refined carbohydrates, Thompson adds.
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