Carbohydrates & Breast Cancer

Researchers in Sweden analyzing data on 61,433 women who completed “food frequency” questionnaires in the late 1980s have found a link between the amount and kind of carbohydrates women eat and breast cancer.

Different carbs produce a different “glycemic load” with correspondingly varying effects on blood sugar. For example, both white bread and potatoes have a high glycemic index, causing a rapid surge in blood sugar when digested. High-fiber cereals or beans create a more gradual change and are considered to have a low glycemic index. High glycemic loads were linked to an elevated risk for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive/progesterone receptor (PR)-negative breast cancers, with those subjects having the highest “glycemic index diet” seeing a 44% increased risk compared to women with the lowest glycemic index diet. Women with the highest “glycemic load” in their systems had an 81% increased risk. Researchers speculate high-glycemic load diets cause a surge of insulin and sex hormones in the body, contributing to the development and spread of breast cancer cells.

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