Reducing consumption of animal protein could improve cancer treatment: Study
| Aug 2, 2019, 12:47 IST
A new study suggests making changes to your diet, like reducing intake of animal consumption, could help to improve cancer treatment.
For the study, mice with colorectal cancer were fed a diet that was low in methionine - an amino acid found in fish, eggs, dairy and meat. In the human body, it plays a major role in various functions including metabolism.
Researchers discovered a low dose of chemotherapy combined with a diet low in methionine “marked inhibition of tumour growth”. The team also conducted a trial test on six humans with no illness and found the diet has a similar effect on their metabolisms. Because methionine helps cancer cells to develop, reducing consumption of this amino acid could prevent them from progressing.
Despite the promising results, Locasale says the findings are "not some panacea" to cancer . Many experts like Tom Sanders, professor emeritus of nutrition and dietetics at King's College London, agree with Locasale.Sanders told a news portal "there is no evidence from this study to suggest following a vegan diet will help patients with cancer."
Experts say further research is needed to understand if this could be used as a possible treatment option one day. “Before drawing any conclusions about the potential for dietary restriction as an approach to treating cancer, human studies are needed,” Paul Pharoah, a professor of cancer epidemiology at the University of Cambridge, told a news portal.
Nevertheless, the results look promising. “Research like this can lead to studies in people,” Justin Stebbing, professor of cancer medicine and oncology at Imperial College London, told a news portal. Adding, “How dietary interventions influence cancer … is likely to be really important in years to come.”
For the study, mice with colorectal cancer were fed a diet that was low in methionine - an amino acid found in fish, eggs, dairy and meat. In the human body, it plays a major role in various functions including metabolism.
Researchers discovered a low dose of chemotherapy combined with a diet low in methionine “marked inhibition of tumour growth”. The team also conducted a trial test on six humans with no illness and found the diet has a similar effect on their metabolisms. Because methionine helps cancer cells to develop, reducing consumption of this amino acid could prevent them from progressing.
Despite the promising results, Locasale says the findings are "not some panacea" to cancer . Many experts like Tom Sanders, professor emeritus of nutrition and dietetics at King's College London, agree with Locasale.Sanders told a news portal "there is no evidence from this study to suggest following a vegan diet will help patients with cancer."
Experts say further research is needed to understand if this could be used as a possible treatment option one day. “Before drawing any conclusions about the potential for dietary restriction as an approach to treating cancer, human studies are needed,” Paul Pharoah, a professor of cancer epidemiology at the University of Cambridge, told a news portal.
Nevertheless, the results look promising. “Research like this can lead to studies in people,” Justin Stebbing, professor of cancer medicine and oncology at Imperial College London, told a news portal. Adding, “How dietary interventions influence cancer … is likely to be really important in years to come.”