Does visceral fat increase the risk of cancer?
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Summary
10 papers analyzed
These studies suggest that visceral fat increases the risk of various cancers, including gastrointestinal, liver, pancreatic, lung, and colorectal cancers, and is associated with poor outcomes and cancer progression.
Consensus Meter
14 papers analyzed
Yes - 79%
Possibly - 21%
No - 0%
Research summarized with Copilot
Beta18 papers analyzed
Introduction
Visceral fat, the fat stored within the abdominal cavity and surrounding internal organs, has been increasingly studied for its potential role in cancer development and progression. Unlike subcutaneous fat, visceral fat is metabolically active and can induce systemic inflammation and other metabolic disturbances, which may contribute to oncogenesis.
Key Insights
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Visceral Fat and Gastrointestinal Cancers:
- Visceral fat is linked to an increased risk and progression of several gastrointestinal cancers, including colorectal, esophageal, pancreatic, and hepatocellular carcinomas .
- Higher visceral fat content is associated with poor prognosis in upper gastrointestinal cancers, such as esophageal and gastric cancers.
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Mechanisms of Oncogenesis:
- Visceral fat promotes a pro-oncogenic environment through chronic systemic inflammation, altered metabolic activity, and endocrine effects .
- Insulin resistance and the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis are significant mediators in the relationship between visceral fat and cancer.
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Specific Cancer Types:
- Colorectal Cancer: Visceral obesity is associated with increased risk and poor outcomes in colorectal cancer, particularly in postmenopausal women and patients with stage II and III cancers .
- Pancreatic Cancer: Elevated visceral fat is causally linked to an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
- Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Visceral fat accumulation increases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after curative treatment in patients with suspected non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
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Sex and Age Differences:
- The impact of visceral fat on cancer risk varies by sex and age, with postmenopausal women showing a higher risk for certain cancers like breast and endometrial cancers.
Conclusion
The collective evidence strongly suggests that visceral fat increases the risk of various cancers, particularly gastrointestinal cancers. This association is mediated through mechanisms involving chronic inflammation, metabolic disturbances, and endocrine effects. Specific cancers such as colorectal, pancreatic, and hepatocellular carcinoma show a clear link with visceral obesity, highlighting the importance of managing visceral fat to potentially reduce cancer risk. Further research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms and to explore targeted interventions.
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