Otto Warburg, Nobel Prize winner in Medicine: “Sugar is the main fuel for diseased cells”

German physiologist and biochemist Otto Warburg was one of the most brilliant scientific minds of the early 20th century. In 1931, he received the Nobel Prize in Medicine for uncovering a link between degenerative diseases and the way human cells process energy.

One of the ideas often associated with his research is the notion that “sugar is the main fuel of diseased cells.” Warburg observed that while healthy cells generate energy by using oxygen through cellular respiration, cancer cells tend to rely on fermenting glucose — burning through any sugar they can access.

This process, he argued, produces lactic acid, which makes the cellular environment more acidic. That shift can weaken the body’s defenses and create conditions that allow disease to spread more easily. In Warburg’s view, whenever a cell can’t use oxygen properly, it turns to sugar fermentation to survive — a change he believed pushed it toward becoming a diseased cell.

Warburg’s theory today

Warburg’s discoveries still influence modern medicine. A clear example is PET scanning technology, which works by injecting a small amount of radioactive glucose into the patient. The scan highlights areas of the body where cells are consuming sugar abnormally fast.

Even so, today’s scientific understanding is far more nuanced. Medicine rarely deals in absolutes, and while Warburg’s theory remains historically important, researchers now know that cancer metabolism is far more complex. Scientific progress builds layer by layer, and what was groundbreaking in one era becomes the foundation for deeper insights in the next.

A healthy diet: still the best preventive tool

Modern research shows that the metabolism and growth of neoplastic cells — abnormal cells that multiply uncontrollably and form new tissue, whether benign or malignant — depend on many different factors. Nutrition plays a major role in cancer prevention, but that doesn’t mean sugar alone is the villain. The real concern centers on ultra‑processed foods and diets high in added sugars.

In other words, the goal isn’t to eliminate all carbohydrates, including natural sources of glucose, but to promote balanced, healthy eating patterns that support long‑term wellness.

In Spain, ocean‑Mediterranean dietary traditions are often highlighted as a strong model — and many of their principles align with what American nutrition experts also recommend: whole foods, fresh produce, lean proteins, and minimal processing.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.