Be careful with raw fish: it can cause cancer

The dangers of food Raw fish They are well known. There are many parasites that can enter our digestive system, but anisakis This is one of the most common. There are two ways to prevent this. The first and perhaps most ideal option is to cook the fish well. However, to be able to eat dishes like sushi, there is no choice but to eat them raw, so they need to be frozen for a few days. not less than -20 ºC before consuming it. If this is not done properly, we can become infected with a parasite, and in this case, there are also two options. Some people do not show symptoms. Others develop a wide range of digestive symptoms or even allergic reactions more or less seriously. But until now it was not known that they both could develop colon cancer over time.

This is the conclusion reached by scientists from a recently conducted study. Complutense University of Madrid and the Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research of the Generalitat of Valencia (Fisabio)It is important to note that this is a small study that only 92 patients with color cancer and 60 healthy people. Despite this, the results are striking enough to warrant further research in this direction.

And this is not the first time this conclusion has been reached. In the past, there has been a definite correlation between anisakis infection and the development of stomach cancer over time. Nothing similar has been seen with colon cancer so far, but both findings support each other.

What is Anisakis?

Anisakis This is a parasitic worm. living in the digestive system of marine animals. The eggs laid by the females develop on the seabed. There, the larvae grow until they are swallowed by small crustaceans, which can then become food for fish and cephalopods such as cuttlefish. If humans eat raw fish or cephalopods, the parasite can also enter our digestive system.

To avoid this, in addition to what has been said above, it is important to destroy the insides of the fish as soon as possible, since this is where Anisakis is most often found. In general, the infection is not serious, with the exception of some digestive symptoms that can become complicated, or allergic reactions that end in anaphylactic shock. However, while the parasite remains in the body, Chronic inflammationdue to the immune system’s response to fight it. This is where the problem these scientists were studying begins.

Colon and gastrointestinal cancer due to parasitosis

The authors of the study, published in Parasitological researchconducted two types of tests on patients and healthy people who took part in the study. On the one hand, the levels T-lymphocytesblood cells that support the immune system’s initial response to infections. And, on the other hand, specific antibodies against the parasite.

So they found two very striking findings. In the first test, they saw that the colon cancer patients had lower levels of T cells, but very high levels of antibodies.

The presence of antibodies means that they were exposed to anisakis at some point. On the other hand, fewer T cells indicate that they may not have been able to adequately fight the infection. This would mean that the parasite was causing inflammation for longer, leading to DNA damage, oncogene expression and decreased apoptosis.

Oncogenes are genes that promote the proliferation of tumor cells. This proliferation usually accompanies DNA damage. Fortunately, our cells have mechanisms such as apoptosis, which cause those that are severely damaged to commit suicide before they can become tumors. More damaged DNA, more genes that promote tumor spread, and fewer mechanisms that prevent it. All contributes to the development of cancerThis has already been observed in stomach cancer, and now in colon cancer.

What’s the point of knowing all this?

Knowing this as consumers helps us not to take risks with raw fish and anisaki. But it is also important data for scientists because it provides information about risk factors for colon cancer. Knowing these factors can help prevent it.

That’s why studies like this are so important. Although it hasn’t been done with many patients, it’s more than enough to keep in mind. Freeze fish before eating it raw.