Non-diabetic Glucose levels and Cancer Mortality: A Literature Review

Title:Non-diabetic Glucose levels and Cancer Mortality: A Literature Review

Volume: 14 Issue: 5

Author(s): Eiichi Kakehi, Kazuhiko Kotani*, Takashi Nakamura, Taro Takeshima and Eiji Kajii

Affiliation:

• Division of Community and Family Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi,Japan

Keywords: Non-diabetics, prediabetes, impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, malignancy, prospective cohort study.

Abstract: Background: Although diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for cancer, the relationship of an increased glucose concentration at a non-diabetic glucose level with cancer mortality is yet to be determined.

Objective: The aim was to observe whether an increased glucose concentration and/or glucose intolerance at the non-diabetic glucose level can predict cancer mortality.

Methods: Population-based prospective cohort studies evaluating cancer mortality at the non-diabetic level (defined as fasting plasma glucose <7.0 mmol/L and two-hour plasma glucose <11.1mmol/L following an oral glucose tolerance test) were collected via a PubMed search with an additional Google scholar search between 1 January 1966 and 31 July 2016.

Results: We identified seven studies, which met the defined criteria. Studies examining fasting/casual states indicated an increase in cancer mortality with a slight increase in fasting/casual glucose levels in men in particular. Not all, but some studies using a glucose tolerance test indicated an increase in cancer mortality with impaired glucose tolerance/prediabetes. Concerning cause-cancer mortality, glucose intolerance states appeared to have an increase in mortality, particularly due to the stomach, liver and pancreatic cancers.

Conclusion: In these studies reviewed, cancer mortality increased in individuals with an increased glucose concentration and an increased potential was seen in those patients with glucose intolerance even at non-diabetic glucose levels. The outcome of these findings is promising and forms the basis for further studies to directly address the relevance of increased (non-diabetic) glucose and glucose intolerance as a prognostic indicator of cancer mortality.

Cite this article as:

Kakehi Eiichi , Kotani Kazuhiko *, Nakamura Takashi , Takeshima Taro and Kajii Eiji , Non-diabetic Glucose levels and Cancer Mortality: A Literature Review, Current Diabetes Reviews 2018; 14 (5) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1573399813666170711142035