High insulin triples breast cancer risk

Yet more evidence that poor blood sugar control is a major driver of breast cancer has emerged from a study by scientists from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, published in the International Journal of Cancer. Those women in the top third for insulin levels had triple the risk of breast cancer.

The study involved 5,450 post-menopausal women followed over 8 years. Some of these women were involved in a clinical trial, others were simply being observed with insulin and blood sugar levels measured at years one, three and six. Those with high insulin that were involved in a clinical trial had double the risk of developing cancer. Those in the top third for insulin levels in the observational group had triple the risk compared to those in the lowest third. This is consistent with other research, published earlier this year showing that postmenopausal women with high insulin levels have twice the risk of developing breast cancer. This, and other research also indicates that being overweight is also a significant risk factor. Being obese is currently associated with about 14 percent of cancer deaths in men and 20 percent in women, compared with about 30 percent each for smoking. Weight gain with every decade of life from the age 18 roughly doubles risk of cancer. However, this latest study shows that, even among lean women, having raised insulin levels significantly increases cancer risk. Insulin levels go up in response to a high glycemic load (GL) diet. The solution is to eat a low GL diet. This study supports the view that following a low GL diet, as specified in the Holford Low GL Diet Bible, is not only good for weight control but also for cancer prevention. To find out more about low GL living come to the GL Revolution seminars or the GL Diet Workshop.