Quote (ForbiddenOath606 @ Jun 19 2014 08:48pm)
Is there any truth to this?
According to a study from USC School of Gerontology published in the March 2014 issue of Cell Metabolism, a moderately high protein diet in people over 65 is good for you, but in middle age leads to a two fold increase in oveall mortality and a four fold increase in getting cancer. Protein intake controls growth of IGF-1, which has been linked to developing cancer.
On the other hand as levels of IGF-1 drop, as they do over the age of 65, it leads to muscle weakness and frailty. So in younger people, high levels of IGF-1 lead to more cancer, but in the elderly it helps prevent muscle weakness, frailty, and injuries from falls. For every 10 ng/ml increase in IGF-1, for those people on a high protein diet there was a 9% increased risk of dying from cancer when compared to those people on a low protein diet. Researchers also found that just changing from a moderate to a low level protein diet reduced the risk of cancer by 21%.
I find that HIGHLY questionable. The actual macronutrient, protein, is NOT to blame here.
Higher cancer risks usually come with the type of diet that goes along with AN AVERAGE AMERICAN DIET with high amounts of saturated fats, low quality meats, a lot of sugar and simple carbs, etc.
If you eat high quantities of GOOD protein from GOOD clean sources, IE chicken breast (no hormones/antibiotics), and LEAN beef (no hormones/antibiotics - grass fed preferred), WHEY protein, Fresh Fish, etc. - you will NOT be putting yourself at any particular cancer risk.
The idea that increase IGF-1 leads to cancer is preposterous. If this was true, every single bodybuilder, strongman, and powerlifter, and normal person on KETO, would be RIDDLED with cancer.
I think this particular study was inherently flawed from the start. I can not find any modern research to dispel the claims, nor can I find any to produce validity in it.