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TEMPE, AZ – Could the key to unlocking new cancer prevention and treatment methods lie within the animal kingdom? A groundbreaking study from Arizona State University (ASU) suggests so, revealing surprising connections between diet, blood sugar, and cancer prevalence across a wide range of vertebrate species.
Researchers, led by ASU’s Carlo Maley, Stefania Kapsetaki, and Karen Sweazea, examined data from 273 vertebrate species, analyzing their diets, blood sugar levels, and cancer rates. The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, challenge existing assumptions and point to potential natural defenses against cancer in certain species.
One of the most striking discoveries was that birds, despite having significantly higher blood sugar levels than mammals and reptiles, exhibited lower cancer prevalence. This contradicts the common belief that high blood sugar increases cancer risk, a trend seen in humans and many other animals.
“We knew that birds get less cancer than mammals, and they also have very high levels of glucose in their blood. That made us wonder if there was some connection,” said Maley, a researcher with the Biodesign Center for Biocomputing, Security and Society.
The study also found that primary carnivores, animals that primarily consume other vertebrates, were more prone to tumors than herbivores, particularly when considering domesticated species. This suggests that the food chain and domestication may play a role in cancer risk.
While diet didn’t significantly impact blood sugar levels across the studied species, it did influence cancer prevalence. The researchers theorize that harmful compounds accumulating in the food chain might contribute to the higher tumor rates in carnivores. Domestication, with its associated reduction in genetic diversity and weaker evolutionary pressures, also appeared to increase cancer risk.
The study suggests that birds may have evolved unique biological mechanisms that protect them from cancer despite high blood sugar levels. These adaptations, potentially linked to their high metabolic rate and cellular defenses, could inspire new approaches to human cancer prevention and treatment.
“Future studies investigating the evolutionary history and mechanisms linking diet, plasma glucose levels and cancer prevalence across vertebrates would provide further clues about the observed diversity among species and inform strategies for more effective cancer prevention and treatment across vertebrates,” said Kapsetaki.
While these findings offer promising avenues for research, the researchers emphasize that they do not suggest that humans should alter their current healthy lifestyle recommendations.
For now, the best advice for humans remains consistent with public health guidelines: maintain a balanced diet, limit processed and red meat consumption, and manage blood sugar through regular exercise.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on a scientific study and should not be interpreted as medical advice. The findings discussed are preliminary and require further research to validate their applicability to human health. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle based on this information. The study focused on non-human vertebrates, and results may not directly translate to human biology.
