Fatty acids in palm oil may help spread cancer, mouse study finds

New research in mice suggests that a substance common in palm oils may promote cancer metastases. Taylor Weidman / Bloomberg via Getty Images

Fatty acids are essential for health, but impaired metabolism and absorption of fatty acids is a hallmark of metastases.

Saturated fatty acids such as palmitic acids, present in palm oil, can promote the expression of genes associated with tumor metastases.

Cancer cells have a “memory” of exposure to palmitic acids and remain highly metastatic.

Fatty acids (FAs) are the main components of fat in our body and the foods we eat. They can serve as fuel for the metabolic pathways.

 There are three main types of FA, classified by chemistry:

 Monounsaturated FAs, which are associated with a abridged risk of coronary thrombosis heart disease.

polyunsaturated fatty acids, which protect in contradiction of the risk of dementia and coronary heart diseases.

Saturated FAs and trans fat, which are associated with an increases risk Reliable source of coronary heart disease

More than 20 types of GA are found in foods, and according to the trusted source of the American Heart Association (AHA), "For good health, most of the fat you eat should be monounsaturated or polyunsaturated," per opposition to saturated or trans fats, which people should avoid.

 

Reconnect the cell

Cancer cells can reconfigure their metabolism to produce the energy necessary for their growth and eventual survival. The metabolism of fatty acids plays an important role in the supply of energy and macromolecules for the development of cancer.

 A study has now shown that palmitic acids, a fatty acid found in palm oil, which is a common ingredient in cakes, cookies and chocolate, can increase metastasis or the spread of cancer.

 According to an earlier study, as of 2019, over 65% of reliable sources of solid cancer deaths had metastases as a recorded contributing cause. Metastasis occurs when cancer cells break away from the main tumor mass and enter the blood or lymph, allowing them to travel and develop into tumors in other parts of the body.

 The new study, published in NatureTrusted Source, sought to understand whether different GAs cause changes that increase the risk of cancer metastases, and if so, how?

 Dr Salvador Aznar-Benitah, from the Barcelona Institute for Biomedicine Research, led the research. The team exposed cancer cells in the skin and mouth to three dietary organic fatty acids: palmitic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid. After 4 days of exposure, the researcher transferred the cells to where they would belong in the mice. They were given a typical diets.

 None of the FAs promoted cancers formation, but palmitic acids, the main FA saturated in palm oil, promoted increased expression of genes associated with metastasis and the size of existing metastatic lesions.

 The effects of GA may differ depending on the type of tumor. For examples, in this study, oleic acid inhibited the spread of oral and skin cancers, but previous studies have shown that it promotes cervical cancer.

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