Excess Sugar in Relation to Liver Cancer

The excess of sugar, chemicals, and liver cancer

Worldwide, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of liver cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death due to its high prevalence and treatment difficulty. Researchers warn that by 2030, the global liver cancer rate will double, affecting more than 1.2 million people.

Alcohol-induced cirrhosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can be reversible in their early stages if one quits alcohol and reduces processed fructose intake, respectively.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming increasingly common. Between 2001 and 2013, the number of diagnosed cirrhosis cases nearly doubled, and deaths from cirrhosis increased by 65% between 1999 and 2016. The largest increase (10.5%) was recorded among those aged 25 to 34, where alcoholic cirrhosis has surged uncontrollably.

Excessive sugar consumption drives the rise in NAFLD (The Sugar Excess)

While alcohol-related cirrhosis is increasing mortality rates, the growing prevalence of NAFLD is contributing to the overall burden of liver diseases. In the case of NAFLD, fatty liver occurs in the absence of significant alcohol consumption and is instead driven by excess sugar, which is now even found in young children.

NAFLD is often asymptomatic, although it can cause fatigue, jaundice, swelling in the legs and abdomen, mental confusion, and more. If left untreated, it can lead to liver inflammation, called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and may result in liver cancer or liver failure. However, just like with alcohol-related cirrhosis, NAFLD can be reversed in its early stages by following a proper diet and exercising.

Most importantly, you must eliminate processed fructose and other added sugars from your diet. Fructose affects your liver in very similar ways to alcohol. Unlike glucose, which can be utilized by virtually all cells in your body, fructose can only be metabolized by the liver, as it is the only organ that has the transporter for it.

Since all fructose is transported to your liver, if you consume it in large amounts, it ends up damaging and deteriorating this organ in the same way that alcohol and other toxins do.

Moreover, the way your liver metabolizes fructose is very similar to that of alcohol, as both substances serve as substrates for converting carbohydrates into fat, promoting insulin resistance, dyslipidemia (abnormal fat levels in the bloodstream), and fatty liver.

Additionally, fructose undergoes the Maillard reaction with proteins, leading to the formation of superoxide free radicals that can cause liver inflammation similar to that of acetaldehyde, an intermediate metabolite of ethanol.

According to Dr. Robert Lustig, a neuroendocrinologist in the endocrinology division at the University of California, fructose is a “chronic and intrinsic liver toxin,” meaning it is dose-dependent.

 

Excess glucose converts to fructose and depletes your NAD+ (The Sugar Excess)

The problem is not only consuming excess fructose in processed foods, but ultimately, in an effort to metabolize glucose, the excess glucose is converted to fructose to obtain energy. Let me explain this in more detail.

When your body is exposed to a chronic excess of glucose, the first enzyme that breaks it down is hexokinase, and when this enzyme becomes saturated, it can no longer break it down.

Once this occurs, glucose will be metabolized through the polyol pathway, where aldose reductase metabolizes glucose into sorbitol, and sorbitol dehydrogenase subsequently metabolizes sorbitol into fructose (see the diagram below).

It is estimated that when you are in good health, only about 3% of glucose goes through the exposed pathway, but at least 30% of it flows through this pathway in chronic hyperglycemia, creating a vicious cycle of excess fructose.

This metabolic catastrophe is a redox reaction that results from the exchange of one NADPH molecule for one NADH molecule. This is precisely what should not happen, as NADPH is used as a reserve reducer for your antioxidants and is necessary for producing both your steroid hormones and fats. When your levels are low, you will start experiencing severe difficulties.

To make matters worse, it increases your NADH levels and worsens your NAD to NADH ratio. As the fuel supply exceeds metabolic demand, the ratios of mitochondrial and cytoplasmic NAD and NADH decrease. The resulting hyperpolarization of the mitochondrial membrane perpetuates electron leakage and excess oxidative stress.

 

Fortunately, there is a simple and affordable solution that should radically improve this metabolic catastrophe. The first thing you must do, invariably, is to clean up your diet as we have advised repeatedly, so your body can burn fat as fuel.

However, you can also take NAD precursors such as simple extended-release niacin. That should help increase the NAD/NADH ratio and NADPH levels. My recommendation is to start with a dose of 25 to 50 milligrams several times a day, as taking a higher dose will likely cause a harmless but relatively annoying flushing sensation.

It would also be helpful to reduce your exposure to electromagnetic fields, as this also consumes NAD through the hyperactivation of PARP and will worsen the metabolic condition.

Folate, milk thistle, NAC, coffee, and broccoli help promote healthy liver function.

• Folate consumption may also help protect your liver function. In fact, studies have shown that folate deficiency can increase your risk of liver cancer. This nutrient may provide the liver with some degree of protection against damage. Similarly, folate can mitigate pesticide-related damage, including autism.
• Milk thistle is an herb that has been used for thousands of years to promote the health of the liver, kidneys, and gallbladder. In modern times, silymarin has been used to treat alcoholic liver disease, acute and chronic viral hepatitis, as well as toxin-induced liver diseases. The active ingredient, a flavonoid called silymarin, is believed to be responsible for the beneficial effects attributed to milk thistle, including providing liver protection, antioxidant, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties.

 

• N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a potent liver protector and a necessary precursor for glutathione biosynthesis. In fact, research suggests that compared to antioxidant resveratrol, NAC is likely a better alternative for supporting liver health in individuals suffering from hepatitis C and other chronic liver diseases.
• If you enjoy drinking coffee, you may be pleased to discover that it seems to have a protective effect against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a severe form of liver cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death worldwide. Drinking one cup of coffee a day reduces the risk of HCC by one-fifth. If you are interested in optimizing the benefits that coffee provides, drink it black and in its organic version without milk or sugar. Still, it is advisable not to overdo your consumption; there are at-risk groups such as pregnant women who should avoid it during pregnancy, as suggested in a study by Dr. Oliver Kennedy from the University of Southampton in the UK.

 

Low-level chemical exposures are linked to liver damage

Although there is no concrete data, there are studies suggesting that alcohol-induced cirrhosis is occurring at a younger age today as a result of liver damage caused by chemical exposures. In fact, researchers have demonstrated that even small amounts of chemicals in food, medicines, and personal care products can cause liver damage.

One of the aforementioned experiments was designed to assess the effects of low-dose chemical combinations whose sources were purely environmental, such as food, medications, and personal care products.

Roundup damages the liver even at minimal doses

Roundup, the most widely used herbicide in the world, has also been linked to liver damage. Alarmingly, glyphosate levels in urine have skyrocketed in the last two decades, suggesting widespread chronic exposure, most likely from food.

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