Sugar and cancer

Background: Coffee, tea, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), and low- and no-calorie sweetened beverages (LNCSBs) are generally frequently consumed in the Nordic and Baltic countries. These beverages have also been related to potential health effects. This scoping review describes the evidence for the role of coffee, tea, SSBs, and LNCSBs for health-related outcomes as a basis for setting and updating food-based dietary guidelines. We used evidence from several qualified systematic reviews (i.e. World Cancer Research Fund, US Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, European Food Safety Authority, and World Health Organization) and performed a search for additional systematic reviews...

Macrofungi, a class of unique natural resources, are gaining popularity owing to their potential therapeutic benefits and edibility. From Fomitopsis officinalis, a medicinal macrofungus with anticancer activity, a homogeneous heteropolysaccharide (FOBP50-1) with a molecular weight of 2.21 × 104  g/mol has been extracted and purified. FOBP50-1 was found to be composed of 3-O-methylfucose, fucose, mannose, glucose, and galactose with a ratio of 1: 6.5: 4.4: 8.1: 18.2. The sugar fragments and structure of FOBP50-1 were investigated, which included →6)-α-d-Galp-(1→, →2,6)-α-d-Galp-(1→, →3)-α-l-Fucp-(1→, α-d-Glcp-(1→, →3)-β-d-Manp-(1→, →6)-β-d-Manp-(1→, 3-O-Me-α-l-Fucp-(1→, according to the UV, FT-IR, GC-MS, and NMR data...

In sub-Saharan Africa, colorectal cancer (CRC) has historically been considered a rare disease, although some previous studies have suggested that the incidence is increasing. We examine time trends in the incidence of CRC using data from 12 population-based cancer registries in 11 countries of sub-Saharan Africa that were able to provide time series data for periods of 12 or more years, or with earlier data with which recent rates may be compared. Age-standardized incidence rates were highest in the higher-income countries, and were increasing in all of the populations studied, and these increases were statistically significant in all but three...

The selective modification of carbohydrates is significant for producing their unnatural analogues for drug discovery. C1-functionalization (glycosylation) and C1,C2-difunctionalization of carbohydrates have been well developed. In contrast, C3-functionalization or C1,C3-difunctionalization of carbohydrates remains rare. Herein, we report such processes that efficiently and stereoselectively modify carbohydrates. Specifically, we found that trifluoroethanol (TFE) could promote 1,3-bis-indolylation/pyrrolylation of 2-nitroglycals generated carbohydrate derivatives in up to 93% yield at room temperature; slightly reducing the temperature could install two different indoles at the C1- and C3-positions...

D-mannose is widely used as non-antibiotic treatment for bacterial urinary tract infections. This application is based on a well-studied mechanism of binding to the type 1 bacterial pili and, therefore, blocking bacteria adhesion to the uroepithelial cells. To implement D-mannose into carrier systems, the mechanism of action of the sugar in the bladder environment is also relevant and requires investigation. Herein, two different MANNosylation strategies using mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are described...

BACKGROUND: Spinach is a widely cultivated dark leafy vegetable highly regarded for its medicinal properties in traditional Persian medicine. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, carotenoids, and other bioactive compounds, and this review aims to explore the historical applications of spinach in Persian medicine and juxtapose them with current scientific evidence. Despite its historical significance, there remains a need to comprehensively evaluate and integrate traditional knowledge with modern research on the therapeutic benefits of spinach...

Phytochemicals from waste materials generated by agricultural and industrial processes have become globally significant due to their accessibility and potential effectiveness with few side effects. These compounds have essential implications in both medicine and the economy. Therefore, a quantitative analysis of the phytochemical profile, sugar types, and water-soluble vitamins of dried Corchorus olitorius L."DJMS" extract (dried Jew's mallow stem) was carried out with HPLC. In addition, the chemical composition, TPC, chlorophyll a and b, beta-carotene, and antioxidant effect using DPPH were investigated...

The phrase "Let food be thy medicine…" means that food can be a form of medicine and medicine can be a form of food; in other words, that the diet we eat can have a significant impact on our health and well-being. Today, this phrase is gaining prominence as more and more scientific evidence suggests that one's diet can help prevent and treat disease. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein can help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other health problems and, on the other hand, a diet rich in processed foods, added sugars, and saturated fats can increase the risk of the same diseases...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A health warning label (HWL) cautioning about the link between alcohol and cancer may be able to communicate alcohol risks to consumers and potentially counter health-oriented nutrition advertising on ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages. This study aimed to examine the independent and combined effects of nutrient content claims (e.g. 0 g sugar) and a HWL on perceived product characteristics and intentions to consume, and whether these effects differed by gender and age...

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: This research substantiates the traditional use of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. for liver health, with scientific evidence of the non-toxic and lipid-lowering properties of licorice sprout extracts. The sprouts' rich mineral and amino acid content, along with their strong antioxidant activity, reinforce their value in traditional medicine. These findings bridge ancient herbal practices with modern science, highlighting licorice's potential in contemporary therapeutic applications...

BACKGROUND: The impact of artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) consumption on obesity-related cancers (ORCs) risk remains controversial. To address this challenging issue, this study employed wide-angle mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to explore the genetic causality between ASB consumption and the risk of ORCs, thereby effectively minimizing the impact of external confounders. METHODS: We conducted a suite of analyses encompassing univariable, multivariable, and two-step MR to evaluate causal associations between ASB consumption (samples = 85,852) and risk of ORCs (total samples = 2,974,770) using summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS)...

The aim of this work is to explore the effects of herbal medicine on secondary metabolites of microorganisms during fermentation. Clonostachys rogersoniana was found to metabolize only small amounts of polyketide glycosides rogerson B and C on fresh potatoes, but after replacing the medium to the medicinal plant Rubus delavayi Franch., the type and content of the metabolized polyketones showed significant changes. The sugars and glycosides in R. delavayi are probably responsible for the changes in secondary metabolites...

BACKGROUND: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a widespread urogenital neoplasm. However, the therapeutic efficacy of these methods is unsatisfactory. In-depth screening of biomarkers could aid early diagnosis and therapy and predict patient prognosis. METHODS: The GEO datasets were selected with specific criteria. Differentially expressed gene (DEG), weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA), protein-protein interaction, LASSO, random forest, and Cox regression analyses were applied to identify the independent prognostic biomarkers...

Glycosylation is a crucial post-translational modification process where sugar molecules (glycans) are covalently linked to proteins, lipids, or other biomolecules. In this highly regulated and complex process, a series of enzymes are involved in adding, modifying, or removing sugar residues. This process plays a pivotal role in various biological functions, influencing the structure, stability, and functionality of the modified molecules. Glycosylation is essential in numerous biological processes, including cell adhesion, signal transduction, immune response, and biomolecular recognition...

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The cluster of differentiation 147 (CD147) is identified as the signaling protein relevant importantly in various cancers, inflammations, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) via interacting with extracellular cyclophilin A (CypA). The reduction of CD147 levels inhibits the progression of CD147-associated diseases. Thai traditional medicines (TTMs): Keaw-hom (KH), Um-ma-ruek-ka-wa-tee (UM), Chan-ta-lee-la (CT), and Ha-rak (HR) have been used as anti-pyretic and anti-respiratory syndromes caused from various conditions including cancers, inflammations, and infections...

O-GlcNAcylation is a unique monosaccharide modification that is ubiquitously present in numerous nucleoplasmic and mitochondrial proteins. The hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP), which is a key branch of glycolysis, provides the unique sugar donor UDP-GlcNAc for the O-GlcNAc modification. Thus, HBP/O-GlcNAcylation can act as a nutrient sensor to perceive changes in nutrient levels and trigger O-GlcNAc modifications of functional proteins in cellular (patho-)physiology, thereby regulating diverse metabolic processes...

BACKGROUND: Consuming sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) has been linked to the development of various adverse health conditions, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This study evaluated associations between SSB intake and long-term mortality among individuals with MASLD using a nationally representative database. METHODS: This population-based, longitudinal study extracted data of adults aged 20-79 years with MASLD from the USA (US) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database 2003-2014...

Breast cancer (BC) is the most predominant malignancy in Arab women in the Middle East, and yearly increases in occurrence by 37.5 and mortality rates by 15.2 for every 100,000 in 2019. This review explores the gap in research investigating the role of dietary patterns and BC in Middle Eastern countries. Furthermore, we analyze the evidence connecting these patterns to BC prevalence in the region, discussing implications for public health and preventive strategies. PubMed, ProQuest, and Cochrane databases were searched up to November 2023...

INTRODUCTION: It has been postulated that nutrition may influence the risk for cutaneous melanoma (CM); therefore, we aimed to assess the associations of food groups and individual nutrient intakes with CM in a Greek population. METHODS: In this case-control study, 151 patients with histologically confirmed CM, newly diagnosed and treated in the Oncology Department of the 'Laikon' University Hospital (Athens, Greece), and 151 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals residing in the Athens metropolitan area, recruited among participants for routine health examinations were included...

BACKGROUND: Glucose and lipid metabolic disorder in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with the levels of serum tumor markers of the digestive tract, such as cancer antigen (CA)199. Therefore, tumor markers in T2DM are important. AIM: To evaluate the expression of serum tumor markers [CA199, CA242, and car-cinoembryonic antigen (CEA)] and the clinical implications of the expression in T2DM. METHODS: For this observational study conducted at Hefei BOE Hospital, China, we enrolled 82 patients with first-onset T2DM and 51 controls between April 2019 and December 2020...