Switching from a high-fat diet to a low-fat diet may slow the development of precancerous changes in the pancreas, according to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition (JN) by researchers at the University of California, Davis.
In the experiment, rodents were divided into three groups: one received a high-fat diet, another a low-fat diet, and the third group was initially fed a high-fat diet before being switched to a low-fat diet.
The results showed that mice that continued on a high-fat diet developed early signs of pancreatic cancer more quickly and gained weight. In contrast, mice that switched to a low-fat diet normalized their weight and showed a reduced risk of developing precancerous changes.
The researchers also observed positive changes in gut microbiome composition, gene expression, and intercellular communication—processes that play a key role in cancer development and were stabilized after the dietary change.
The authors emphasized that, despite the encouraging results, it is still too early to apply them directly to humans.
“It is very difficult to study the early stages of pancreatic cancer in humans, as healthy tissue is not typically biopsied,” the scientists explained.
However, they emphasized that a balanced diet remains one of the key factors in disease prevention and maintaining health at the cellular level.
