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Low-carb diets may raise colon cancer risk

Category: Colon

High-protein low-carb diets have become extremely popular in recent years for people who are looking to shed unwanted pounds. However, a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that individuals who follow these diets may be more likely to receive positive colon cancer tests.

For the study, researchers from the University of Aberdeen in the UK put a group of men on one of three different diets, with the number of carbs allowed per day varying in each. After each participant followed the diets for several weeks, researchers collected and analyzed fecal samples from them.

The results of the tests showed that men who ate the fewest carbs had dangerously high levels of metabolic compounds that have been shown to increase colon cancer risk. Furthermore, they were less likely to have other compounds that are known to lower the odds of developing the disease.

While it can be difficult to assess long-term risk from a four-week study, the researchers said there appears to be a relatively strong link between low-carb diets and colon cancer risk.