Obesity and Cancer: A Possible role for dysregulated dietary phosphate

Obesity is the second-highest avoidable risk factor for cancer, behind smoking, but rising obesity and overweight rates are expected to replace smoking as the main preventable cancer risk factor. Few studies have looked at the dysregulated endocrine metabolism of dietary phosphate as a potential moderating element in the obesity-cancer link. Phosphate toxicity, or the build-up of excess phosphate in the body as a result of dysregulated phosphate metabolism, has been linked to cancer. Obesity is also associated with high levels of hormones that govern phosphate metabolisms, such as parathyroid hormone and fibroblast growth factor 23, suggesting a possible relationship between obesity and phosphate toxicity. Increased inorganic phosphate intake has been connected to an increase in the consumption of foods processed with phosphate additions, and consumption of ultraprocessed foods has been linked to an increase in the prevalence of obesity. Sugar-sweetened drinks are the single highest source of sugar and energy intake in the United States, and colas containing phosphoric acid have been linked to carcinogenesis, implying yet another possible link between obesity and cancer. Furthermore, dietary phosphate is associated with an increase in obesity, central obesity, and metabolic syndrome. The current viewpoint essay posits that dysregulated dietary phosphate may play a role in the obesity-cancer link. toxicity. Increased inorganic phosphate intake has been connected to an increase in the consumption of foods processed with phosphate additions, and consumption of ultra-processed foods has been linked to an increase in the prevalence of obesity. Sugar-sweetened drinks are the single highest source of sugar and energy intake in the United States, and colas containing phosphoric acid have been linked to carcinogenesis, implying yet another possible link between obesity and cancer. Furthermore, dietary phosphate is associated with an increase in obesity, central obesity, and metabolic syndrome. The current viewpoint essay posits that dysregulated dietary phosphate may play a role in the obesity-cancer link.