In recent years, a growing number of studies have focused on the impact of palm oil on human health. One of the most concerning findings is the link between palmitic acid—the main component of palm oil—and an increased risk of cancer metastasis. On March 21, Roman Ivanov, an expert at the Gemotest laboratory, told Izvestia who should reconsider their diet and how health risks can be reduced.
Ivanov referred to a study conducted by the Barcelona Institute of Biomedical Research and published in the journal Nature. The research confirms that palm oil may worsen the condition of cancer patients by stimulating the spread of cancer cells throughout the body. This process, known as metastasis, remains the leading cause of death among oncology patients.
According to the study, palmitic acid affects metabolic processes in tumor cells, promoting their growth and spread and making them more prone to metastasis. Particularly alarming is the fact that this effect may persist even after a person stops consuming palm oil. Fatty acids from palm oil can trigger changes not only in cancer cells but also in surrounding tissues, creating what researchers describe as a “pro-metastatic memory.” This suggests that palm oil may have long-term negative effects on health.
“At the same time, palm oil itself does not cause cancer,” Ivanov emphasized. “This means the product is most dangerous for people who already have cancer.” However, he added that many forms of cancer can remain asymptomatic for a long time and are often discovered incidentally during examinations for other conditions. For this reason, individuals with a family history of cancer are strongly advised to limit their consumption of palm oil.
According to Ivanov, a diet low in palmitic acid may help slow the metastatic process and potentially increase life expectancy in cancer patients. Nevertheless, he stressed that further research is needed to accurately assess the long-term effects of dietary changes on cancer progression.
