A recent study published in Gastroenterology looked at diets high in fermentable fiber in mice and their associated risk for developing liver cancer.
The specific congenital defect in mice was congenital portosystemic shunt. Congenital portosystemic shunts are uncommon in humans. The Portosystemic shunt can develop in patients with Cirrhosis. The authors hypothesize that processed fermentable fiber can suppress immunity and could contribute to higher liver cancer risk. Calculating bile salt levels in blood can be helpful in detecting portosystemic shunts in cirrhotic patients.
The researchers found that the risk for developing liver cancer among mice with a specific congenital defect was substantial when they ate a diet enriched with fermentable fiber. The blood of these mice also had a high bile acid content.
- Liver cancer can be fatal, but experts are still working to understand how to best screen for and prevent liver cancer.
- Data from a recent study suggests that a diet high in processed fiber could increase some people’s liver cancer risk.
- Testing for the level of bile acids could help identify people at risk of developing liver cancer who may need a lower intake of fermentable fiber.
- The researchers found that the risk for developing liver cancer among mice with a specific congenital defect was substantial when they ate a diet enriched with fermentable fiber. The blood of these mice also had a high bile acid content.
- When the at-risk mice ate fermentable fiber-enriched diets, their risk of developing liver cancer increased. Researchers theorized that this could be because the fermentable fiber diet contributed to a suppressed immune system.
- Next, researchers looked at overall fiber intake and associated liver cancer risk in humans. Among men with high bile acid levels, high fiber intake was associated with an increased risk of developing liver cancer.
Researchers could not distinguish between fiber types in their data from human subjects. This means that further research is needed to understand if it is actually fermentable fiber that contributes to liver cancer risk.
Researchers also note that further research is needed on the prevalence of congenital liver shunts and how they impact liver disease and liver cancer.
For more information, please visit https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/diets-high-in-processed-fiber-may-increase-risk-of-liver-cancer-in-some-people#Fermentable-fiber-and-liver-cancer-risk
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References: Diets high in processed fiber may increase risk of liver cancer (medicalnewstoday.com)