Green Bananas Reduce Cancer Risk by Over 60%, Study Finds

A groundbreaking study has revealed that resistant starch, found in common foods like oats and slightly green bananas, can reduce the risk of various cancers by more than 60%. This discovery stems from the CAPP2 trial, which involved nearly 1,000 participants with Lynch syndrome, a genetic condition that significantly increases the likelihood of developing cancers, particularly in the bowel, womb, and ovaries.

Lynch syndrome affects about one in 300 people in the UK and raises their lifetime bowel cancer risk to as much as 80%. These individuals also face a higher likelihood of developing other cancers at an earlier age than the general population.

The trial’s findings showed that consuming resistant starch, also known as fermentable fiber, for two years did not impact bowel cancer rates but dramatically reduced the risk of other cancers, particularly upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, by more than half. These cancers include those affecting the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, duodenum, and biliary tract. Remarkably, the protective effects of resistant starch continued for up to 10 years after participants stopped taking it.

The research, published in Cancer Prevention Research, was conducted as a double-blind trial with a 10-year follow-up, and additional data from national cancer registries extended to 20 years for 369 participants.

How Resistant Starch Works

Resistant starch is a type of carbohydrate that bypasses digestion in the small intestine and ferments in the large intestine, nourishing beneficial gut bacteria. It acts like dietary fiber, providing several health benefits and fewer calories than regular starch. Professor John Mathers, a nutrition expert from Newcastle University, suggests that resistant starch may lower cancer risk by altering the bacterial metabolism of bile acids, which can damage DNA and potentially cause cancer.

“We think resistant starch may reduce cancer development by changing the bacterial metabolism of bile acids and reducing those types of bile acids that can harm our DNA,” Professor Mathers explained. However, he emphasized that further research is needed to fully understand this process.

Professor Mathers also pointed out the remarkable 60% reduction in various cancers associated with resistant starch, particularly in the upper GI tract, where cancers are often difficult to diagnose early.

Additionally, the trial found that aspirin reduced large bowel cancer risk by 50%, leading the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to recommend aspirin for individuals at high genetic risk of cancer.

Insights from the CAPP2 Trial

Between 1999 and 2005, nearly 1,000 participants with Lynch syndrome took either daily resistant starch, aspirin, or a placebo for two years. By the end of the treatment phase, there was no immediate difference between those who took resistant starch or aspirin and those who didn’t. However, the researchers anticipated long-term effects, designing the study for extended follow-up.

During the follow-up, only five new cases of upper GI cancers were reported among the 463 participants who had taken resistant starch, compared to 21 cases in the 455 participants who received a placebo. These results highlight the potential of resistant starch in protecting against certain cancers.

Professor Tim Bishop from the University of Leeds, who also participated in the trial, expressed excitement about the findings but cautioned that the magnitude of the protective effect in the upper GI tract was unexpected, necessitating further research.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Cancer Prevention

Resistant starch can be consumed naturally through foods such as peas, beans, oats, and slightly green bananas, or as a powdered supplement. Professor Mathers emphasized its potential health benefits, noting that it provides fewer calories than regular starch and could play a role in cancer prevention by altering bile acid metabolism. However, he stressed that more research is needed to confirm these promising results.

The research team is now leading the CaPP3 international trial, involving over 1,800 people with Lynch syndrome. This trial aims to explore whether smaller, safer doses of aspirin can effectively reduce cancer risk.

Funded by Cancer Research UK, the European Commission, the Medical Research Council, and the National Institute for Health Research, this research has garnered global attention for its potential to offer a simple, natural means of cancer prevention, particularly for those at high genetic risk.

This groundbreaking discovery could open new avenues for cancer research, offering hope for those at elevated cancer risk.

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