Authors
Caderni G. Luceri C. Lancioni L. Biggeri A. Giannini A. Fazi M.
Brighenti F. Cresci A. Orpianesi C. Dolara P.
Institution
Department of Pharmacology, University of Florence, Italy.
Title
Modification of azoxymethane intestinal carcinogenesis in rats by feeding
sucrose boluses, pasta, and glucose.
Source
Nutrition & Cancer. 28(2):146-52, 1997.
Abstract
We studied whether repeated boluses of sucrose or diets containing
carbohydrates with a variable glycemic
index (GI) affect intestinal carcinogenesis in rats. Male
F344 rats were treated twice (1 wk apart) with 15 mg/kg sc azoxymethane (AOM)
and then divided into four experimental dietary groups with different
carbohydrate composition and administration schedules: the sucrose group was
fed 44% (wt/wt) sucrose (GI = 65), the bolus group was fed sucrose as
carbohydrate and 43 boluses of sucrose (10-15 g/kg) at various time
intervals, the pasta group was fed pasta [77% (wt/wt) cooked pasta, GI = 55],
and the glucose group was fed 44% (wt/wt) glucose (GI = 97). All nutrients,
including carbohydrates, were provided in similar amount to the different
groups. The experiment was terminated between Day 230 and Day 245 after AOM
administration. At this time the pasta group had significantly higher cecal
short-chain fatty acids than the other groups. Intestinal adenomas and
cancers occurred with the same frequency in the bolus, sucrose, and glucose
groups. On the contrary, we observed a significant decrease (p = 0.03) in the
cumulative incidence of intestinal adenomas, but not adenocarcinomas, in the
pasta group compared with the sucrose group (intestinal adenoma incidence in
the pasta group was 31% compared with 63% in the sucrose group, 46% in the
bolus group, and 37% in the glucose group). In conclusion, these results do
not support the hypothesis that sucrose boluses or carbohydrates with a high
GI stimulate colon carcinogenesis, but they indicate that foods such as pasta
may exert a protective effect.
Note:
Whole wheat pasta was not used in the above experiment. Whole wheat pasta might be expected to more effective in inhibiting tumor growth due to its phytic acid content.