A common dietary supplement could help train the immune system to fight tumors and repair immune damage linked to obesity, according to a mouse study in Cell Reports by researchers at Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin.
Key Discoveries
- Stem Cell Training: Oral yeast beta-glucan reprogrammed bone marrow stem cells, triggering stronger, longer-lasting immune responses against colorectal, skin, and breast cancer cells.
- Restoring Defenses: The supplement restored lost anti-tumor immune activity in obese mice.
- Reversing Lasting Damage: It reversed long-term immune memory defects that may otherwise persist even after weight loss.
Important Caveats
- Mouse Study Limits: Observed in mice, researchers do not yet know if these anti-tumor benefits translate to humans.
- Potential Combination Therapy: Scientists hypothesize that yeast beta-glucan could potentially complement therapies like chemotherapy or immunotherapy, but clinical trials are required.
- Ready for Clinical Testing: Because food-grade yeast beta-glucan is already commercially available and safe, researchers hope to move quickly to human trials.
Source: Science Daily
