The relationship of the amino acid diet to cancer treatment

Image copyright SPL Image caption The research suggests the restricted diet could help the effectiveness of chemotherapyA controlled diet that restricts certain amino acids could be used as an additional treatment for some Cancer patients, according to Cancer Research UK. "This kind of restricted diet would be a short-term measure and must be carefully controlled and monitored by doctors for safety." Researchers found that removing two non-essential amino acids, serine and glycine, from the diet of mice slowed the development of tumours. The report by the Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute and the University of Glasgow is published in Nature. "Our diet is complex, and protein - the main source of all amino acids - is vital for our health and well-being.




Chemotherapy and radiotherapy increase levels of glycine and serine in mice, so a diet restricting the two amino acids could make cancer treatments more effective. Now, researchers want to set up clinical trials with cancer patients to test the safety and efficacy of the treatment. "The next steps are clinical trials in people to see if giving a specialized diet that lacks these amino acids is safe and helps slow tumor growth as seen in mice." AdvertisementScientists also found that the specialized diet "made some cancer cells more susceptible to chemicals called reactive oxygen species" when tested in mice. Researchers want to set up clinical trials with cancer patients to test the safety and efficacy of the treatmentRemoving amino acids serine and glycine from one's diet could slow the development of lymphoma and intestinal cancer, according to research from the University of Glasgow and Beatson Institute.

Restricting amino acids in diet slows tumor growth, prolongs survival in mice

Cutting out certain amino acids – the building blocks of proteins – from the diet of mice slows tumour growth and prolongs survival, according to new research published in Nature today (Wednesday). Our diet is complex and protein - the main source of all amino acids - is vital for our health and well-being. The researchers also found that the special diet made some cancer cells more susceptible to chemicals in cells called reactive oxygen species. This means that patients cannot safely cut out these specific amino acids simply by following some form of home-made diet. The next steps are clinical trials in people to see if giving a specialised diet that lacks these amino acids is safe and helps slow tumour growth as seen in mice.


collected by :Lucy William