HIGH-FAT DIET AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CARCINOGENIC PROCESS

Abstract

The etiology of cancer is still a field to be explored because it is multifactorial, but studies have already proven that eating habits are one of the relevant factors in the proliferation of cancer cells. Analyzing this risk factor in today's society, especially in the West, where diet has been neglected due to the hectic and busy daily lives of most people and the speed and convenience offered by food companies, the increase in the intake of foods with low nutritional value and higher amounts of fat is evident. It is known that a diet rich in fat can contribute to the carcinogenic process, considering that excess fatty acids, among other products of lipid metabolism, are responsible for stimulating cell growth, since they are used as cell signaling; constituents of the formation of cell membranes and cytoplasmic components, in addition to contributing to the maintenance of the cell through energy reserves (Triglycerides). Recent studies have also demonstrated the changes that cancer promotes in lipid metabolism, such as increased absorption, inflammation and expression of proteins related to this process, in order to meet its needs and promote rapid proliferation in the system. Together with the new discoveries about the mechanism of influence of exogenous fat on cancer, new possibilities for its use in treatment and diagnosis arise. In view of the above, this work aims to conduct a bibliographic review in the main databases such as Bireme, Lilacs and Pubmed, seeking to clarify the molecular mechanisms that involve excess lipids with the increased incidence of cancer, as well as dietary control as a preventive and nutritionally therapeutic means.