Arizona State University Researchers Link High Fat Diet to Mouse Colon Cancer Risk
Arizona State University researchers published findings on November 12 in a journal linking high fat diets to increased colon cancer risk in mice.
Study Details and Methods Used
Researchers from Arizona State University fed mice a Western-style high fat diet for six months. They compared these results with mice given a low fat diet over the same period. The high fat group gained more weight than the low fat group during the trial. Mice on the high fat diet developed more intestinal stem cells that grew at a rapid rate. Those genetically predisposed to cancer developed larger tumors when fed the high fat diet.
DNA Changes and Reversal Effects
Scientists noted specific changes in the DNA of intestinal stem cells that explained their growth and survival. Stem cell behavior returned to normal after mice switched back to a low fat diet for four weeks. Approximately 18 percent of the DNA changes persisted even after the diet switch occurred. Some genetic alterations remained detectable despite the return to a lower fat intake.
Expert Opinions on Human Application
Dalia Perelman from Stanford University stated that human evidence already links obesity and processed meats to cancer risk. She noted this study adds a mechanism but does not prove fat increases risk in humans directly. Ketan Thanki from MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute agreed animal studies are valuable starting points for understanding biology. He emphasized that human genetics and metabolism make direct application of mouse findings complex.
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