Fatty Diet Increases Colon Cancer Risk

Researchers at the University of Texas found that high-fat diets produce an overabundance of lithocholic acid, a byproduct of fat breakdown.

Usually, the lithocholic acid (LA) is sent to the liver for further processing, but only so much can go there. When there's extra, it's sent to the small intestine and eventually travels to the colon. LA is toxic and builds up in a high-fat diet.

Scientists don't know how LA causes cancer. They just know that it definitely causes cancer in mice and that people with colorectal cancer have high concentrations of it.

_{Source: Researchers Uncover Biochemical Connection Between High-Fat Diets and Increased Colon Cancer Risk. Science Blog. 17 May. 2002. 25 Aug. 2006 [http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2002/B/20026781.html].}