Nobel-Prize Winner Otto Warburg: 'The Prime Cause Of Cancer Is Fermentation'

Otto Heinrich Warburg is hardly a household name, yet this German physiologist and medical doctor won the Nobel Prize in 1931 and was nominated two more times. Though his father — the physicist Emil Warburg — was Jewish, Otto Heinrich Warburg became Hitler's cancer expert, affording him a special protected status during the Third Reich. 

While that sounds like the start of an interesting story, and it is, Warburg's connection with Nazi Germany isn't what makes his name food for internet-connected conspiracy theorists from all corners of the globe. That would be due to his fascinating cancer hypothesis. 

The Warburg Hypothesis

"The prime cause of cancer was officially discovered before 1923, and the scientist behind this finding received the Nobel Prize for that discovery in 1931," one Bosnian news portal says, continuing: "Only a very small number of people know about this fact, a truth that has unfortunately been concealed from the public."

Many lay websites that mention Warburg's theory sound a lot like this: paranoid, outdated, and like they're trying to let you in on an exclusive secret. Despite the dubious nature of proponents of his theory, Warburg's research — which was conducted nearly a century ago — is fascinating as well as impressive.

Warburg won the Nobel Prize in 1931 for his theory that cancer develops as a result of mitochondrial damage and insufficient cell respiration, meaning the metabolism of cells in the body. His research indicated that cancer thrives in partially anaerobic ("acidic") conditions, so with little oxygen. Cancer cells mainly generate energy through the non-oxidative breakdown of glucose (glycolysis). Healthy cells, on the other hand, obtain energy from the oxidative breakdown of pyruvate, a final product of glycolysis, according to Warburg's theory.

'Cancer Cells Partial Anaerobes'

Warburg himself summed it up like this: "Cancer, above all other diseases, has countless secondary causes. But, even for cancer, there is only one prime cause. Summarized in a few words, the prime cause of cancer is the replacement of the respiration of oxygen in normal body cells by a fermentation of sugar. All normal body cells meet their energy needs by respiration of oxygen, whereas cancer cells meet their energy needs in great part by fermentation."

See Also: Alkaline Foods and Cancer

"Of what use is it to know the prime cause of cancer?," Warburg asks in his paper The Prime Cause And Prevention Of Cancer, adding: "Here is an example. In Scandinavian countries there occurs a cancer of the throat and esophagus whose precursor is the so-called Plummer-Vinson syndrome. This syndrome can be healed when one adds to the diet the active groups of respiratory enzymes, for example: iron salts, riboflavin, nicotinamide, and pantothenic acid. When one can heal the precursor of a cancer, one can prevent cancer."

It was later demonstrated that even cancer cells with intact mitochondria showed evidence of the Warburg Effect, showing a high glycolysis rate despite the presence of oxygen. As such, this tendency was instead proposed to be due to the higher energy demands of rapidly-growing cancer cells.

Alkaline Diets And Cancer Prevention?

Warburg's theory was certainly revolutionary in 1931, and he continued with his research until he died in 1966. His name is now being used by the aforementioned conspiracy and alternative health websites to tout a so-called alkaline diet that is supposed to rid the body of acidity and either prevent or cure cancer.

Though Otto Warburg warned against smoking, was in favor of eating organic foods, and advised people to exercise regularly, diets like the ones circulating online and found in books discussing "alkaline diets" were not created by him personally. They may, however, partially be based on his theories. 

What Are Alkaline Diets?

What does a typical alkaline (so non-acidic, with a high pH level) look like? Lots of fruits and vegetables are typically involved, and some advocates also suggest a vegetarian raw-food regime. Tofu and soy products and many other beans, legumes, seeds and nuts are allowed, while meat and other animal products like dairy and eggs are to be avoided. Alkaline-diet advocates also advise you to avoid sugar, alcohol, and any processed foods including bread. Alkaline diets are proposed for all kinds of different things besides the cure and prevention of cancer, including back pain, better brain function, and type 2 diabetes. 

Of course, eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, beans, and legumes cooked from scratch is going to be helpful for most people, regardless of their current health status. Simultaneously, avoiding processed foods, too much meat, and alcohol is going to be a great idea. So far, so good. This is sound diet advice.

Alkaline Diets Do Not Cure Cancer

There is, however, no evidence that diet affects the blood's pH level — slightly alkaline by nature — to any great degree at all. The body works to keep that pH level steady at all times by expelling waste products through the urine, regardless of what we eat.

Making the body more alkaline was, remember, the thing that is supposed to cure cancer. Eating healthily is wonderful, and it might even assist the body during any kind of medical treatment. Is foregoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy to focus on dietary solutions to cancer a sane decision? No, it is not. Any person who decides to opt out of cancer treatment to focus on alternative medicine should be aware what the possible consequences are. 

See Also: Claims for Alkaline Diets Get Sour Response from Doctors, Nutritionists

What does your medical team say about alkaline diets? We know the answer, and so do you. The only question is whether you believe mainstream medicine's view of this approach is due to some kind of Big Pharma Conspiracy, or because diets cannot cure cancer.