High-Fat Keto Diet Linked to Increased Liver Cancer Risk, New Study Warns
**Islamabad (Qudrat Daily):** Scientists from Harvard University and MIT have revealed a potentially dangerous connection between high-fat ketogenic diets and liver cancer. Their research indicates that prolonged adherence to a high-fat keto diet can alter liver cells, increasing the long-term risk of cancer.
The study explains that the keto diet, which minimizes carbohydrates and relies on stored fat for energy, is popular for weight loss. However, the new research warns that such diets may pose serious health risks. High-fat intake can push liver cells into an early adaptive state, allowing them to manage excess fat but making them more susceptible to disease.
Professor Alex Shalek, Director at the Institute for Medical Engineering and Science and co-author of the study, said that repeated exposure to a high-fat diet forces liver cells to take survival measures, which can inadvertently elevate the risk of cancer.
High-fat diets have previously been linked to fatty liver disease, where excess fat accumulation leads to inflammation, liver failure, and potentially cancer. In the study, mice fed a high-fat diet were closely monitored. Initially, hepatocytes (liver cells) activated certain genes to survive, while genes required for normal liver function were suppressed.
Graduate researcher Constantine Zwanas, also a co-author, explained that this represents a delicate balance: each cell adapts to survive, but overall liver function suffers. By the end of the study, nearly all mice on the high-fat diet developed liver cancer. Researchers concluded that such cellular adaptations make the liver more prone to harmful mutations, significantly increasing cancer risk over time.
This research highlights the need for caution regarding high-fat diets and urges consideration of long-term liver health.
