A recent study published in the research journal Cancer has found that individuals with worsening metabolic syndrome, which affects more than a third of adults in the United States, are at a higher risk of developing all types of cancer. The research focused on nearly 45,000 adults in China and found that those with elevated and increasing metabolic syndrome faced a higher risk of developing cancer over a median follow-up period of more than 9 years. Notably, the risk of developing kidney cancer was more than 4 times higher for those with a high-stable trajectory of metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome is not a single condition but rather a combination of markers including central or abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high serum triglycerides, and low serum high-density lipoprotein. While it has been established that metabolic syndrome is associated with cardiovascular issues and type 2 diabetes, this new study demonstrates how it also contributes to the risk of developing cancer. The study highlights the importance of early intervention to limit health risks later in life by managing the individual components of metabolic syndrome, such as maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Dr. Han-Ping Shi, a senior study author and surgeon at the Capital Medical University in Beijing, noted that the research can guide future investigations into the biological mechanisms linking metabolic syndrome to cancer, potentially leading to targeted treatments or preventive strategies. Dr. Anton Bilchik, a surgical oncologist at Providence Saint John’s Cancer Institute in California, emphasized the unique insights provided by the study’s longitudinal design, which evaluated the trajectory of metabolic syndrome over a four-year period. The study demonstrates that the combination of inflammation and metabolic syndrome significantly increases the risk of developing common cancers like breast, colon, endometrial, and liver cancer.
A study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that rates of metabolic syndrome in the United States have been increasing over the years, with more than a third of adults affected by the condition in recent years. Dr. Cheng-Han Chen, an interventional cardiologist at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in California, stressed the importance of early and widespread screening for metabolic syndrome to reduce the risk of developing various types of cancer. Monitoring and managing components of metabolic syndrome, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, high sugar, and high body fat, through healthy lifestyle behaviors can help reduce the risk of cancer.
Overall, the research suggests that metabolic syndrome has a significant impact on cancer risk, and early intervention through managing the individual markers of the syndrome can help mitigate these risks. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, a balanced diet, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, protecting oneself from sun exposure, and following recommended cancer screening guidelines, can all contribute to reducing the risk of developing cancer in the future. This study underscores the importance of proactive measures to address metabolic syndrome and its potential link to various types of cancer.
