On a High Fat Diet? You May Be at Risk of Colon Cancer

On a High Fat Diet? You May Be at Risk of Colon Cancer

Scientists have shown that when there’s too much dietary fat in the intestine, stem cell numbers increase, boosting susceptibility to colon cancer.

Two genes that appear to help stem cells in the intestine burn dietary fat may play a role in colon cancer, according to a new study.

The study, published in the journal Gastroenterology, described a new connection between the way cells consume fat and how genes regulate stem cell behaviour in the intestines of mice.

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Michael Verzi, Senior author and associate professor in the Department of Genetics at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.“This is important because scientists have shown that when there’s too much dietary fat in the intestine, stem cell numbers increase, boosting susceptibility to colon cancer.”

People naturally lose millions of intestinal cells daily, much like they lose skin cells.

Intestinal stem cells undergo constant renewal and fuel the continuous turnover of the lining of the intestine, but altered stem cell functions can lead to colon cancer.

Recent studies have shown that intestinal stem cells can increase in animals on a high fat "Western" diet, potentially explaining an elevated cancer risk from such a diet.

The team recently discovered that two genes (HNF4A and HNF4G) work together to promote the proper function of the intestinal lining.

In the new study, they found that mice lost intestinal stem cells when these genes were inactivated, confirming their importance. Scientists believe that the genes help stem cells burn fat, providing them energy.

Verzi, Member of the Rutgers Center for Lipid Research.“Going forward, we hope to further investigate whether the two genes alter stem cell numbers and cancer risk during a high fat diet.”

(This story was auto-published from a syndicated feed. No part of the story has been edited by FIT.)

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