| Parents often complain that the food their children | | | | activated in an attempt to destroy it. As with many |
| eat does not "stick with them." That might seem like | | | | immune reactions, there is associated inflammation. |
| an advantage if they were aware of what you're | | | | Certain growth factors are secreted by the invading |
| about to read. Recent research shows specific | | | | inflammatory cells. |
| constituents of certain foods go beyond sticking to | | | | One of these, VEGF, initiates the growth of new |
| us. These substances are more like intruders, | | | | blood vessels, which function as conduits, bringing |
| uninvited guests that can wreak havoc on our bodies | | | | more nutrition to the cells in the area, both malignant |
| instead of nourishing them. | | | | and normal. In other words, the foreign Neu5Gc |
| What's at Steak | | | | sugar, adhering to the exterior of the tumor cell, |
| This new experimental evidence demonstrates, | | | | indirectly feeds the cancer. |
| perhaps for the first time, how and why certain | | | | Immune System Malfunction? |
| foods can promote cancer growth. Red meat was | | | | Our immune system is supposed to protect us from |
| identified as one of those foods. | | | | disease, including cancer. However, it seems to be |
| Numerous epidemiological studies support the findings. | | | | most effective when it defends with rapid and |
| Populations who commonly consume significant | | | | overwhelming force. On the other hand, an immune |
| amounts of meat, especially red, have reported a | | | | response resulting in chronic, low-grade inflammation |
| higher incidence of certain cancers, compared to | | | | has long been associated with many diseases |
| populations whose diet is predominantly fish, | | | | (diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, etc.), |
| vegetables, fruit and legumes. But what, exactly, is | | | | most prominently cancer. |
| the connection between red meat and cancer? | | | | It appears, from the study summarized here and |
| Not-so-sweet Molecules | | | | others, that a mild or chronic inflammation is just |
| For some time, scientists studying cancerous tissues | | | | what the malignant cell requires to grow. This |
| have observed that cells of malignant growths | | | | hypothesis is also upheld by studies showing |
| contain abnormal sugar and sugar-like molecules, | | | | decreased cancer risk in people who take |
| which extrude on the cell's surface. One of these, a | | | | non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin |
| sialic acid sugar called Neu5Gc, is normally present in | | | | and the COX-2 inhibitors. |
| most mammals but lacking in humans, due to the | | | | Experiments with mice, exhibiting tumors bearing the |
| absence of a gene necessary for its synthesis. | | | | Neu5Gc sugar, corroborated the effectiveness of |
| In spite of the human inability to make the sialic acid | | | | anti-inflammatory drugs. Tumor growth increased |
| sugar, Neu5Gc, its presence has been reported in | | | | after the mice were injected with the antibody to |
| human tumors, including colon carcinomas, | | | | Neu5Gc. However, if the animals were treated with |
| retinoblastomas, breast cancers, and melanomas. So | | | | an anti-inflammatory agent then injected with the |
| the team of investigators, who undertook the recent | | | | antibody, the stimulatory effect was largely |
| research, asked: where does the Neu5Gc originate? | | | | eliminated. |
| Their study suggests the probable source of the | | | | Which brings us to the question of the relationship |
| Neu5Gc is diet, more specifically foods containing high | | | | between Neu5Gc, its antibody and cancer. Our |
| levels of this sialic acid sugar, among them red meat | | | | cousins, the chimpanzees, may actually hold another |
| and milk products. Both of these foods also have a | | | | clue. Unlike humans, chimps can synthesize this sialic |
| significant association with cancer risk. | | | | acid sugar. Since it is not foreign to their immune |
| Exception and Explanation | | | | systems, antibodies aren't produced. Interestingly, |
| If diet is the key, why do some red-meat | | | | chimpanzees rarely develop the types of cancers |
| milk-product consumers seem to be disease-free? | | | | associated with Neu5Gc-bearing tumors. |
| Blood analyses detected antibodies to the sialic acid | | | | Eat No Evil |
| sugar, indicating its presence. The key determinant | | | | Although the research results described here are |
| seemed to be the absence of precancerous cells. | | | | impressive, they are not conclusive. Still, humans may |
| This observation led to further in vitro cancer cell | | | | benefit from mimicking the chimps' condition. The less |
| study. Although the researchers didn't conclusively | | | | Neu5Gc we ingest, the fewer antibodies and related |
| demonstrate that Neu5Gc causes cancer, they do | | | | chronic low-grade inflammation will be produced. |
| present strong evidence that Neu5Gc stimulates | | | | In other words, it may be prudent to consume |
| pre-existing cancerous growth through the following | | | | modest amounts of red meat and milk, favoring |
| processes: | | | | other protein sources (fish, poultry, legumes) instead. |
| The Neu5Gc on the cell's surface is recognized as a | | | | By simply changing our food choices, we could |
| foreign substance. (Remember, humans don't produce | | | | reduce the incidence of certain cancers as well as |
| it.) In response, the immune system is mildly | | | | other diseases associated with inflammation. |