An international team of researchers has identified a direct molecular link between meat and dairy diets and the development of antibodies in the blood that increase the chances of developing cancer. This connection may explain the high incidence of cancer among those who consume large amounts of dairy products and red meat, similar to the link between high cholesterol and an increased risk of heart disease.
The study was led by Dr. Vered Padler-Karavani of the Department of Cell Research and Immunology at the Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research at Tel Aviv University's George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences. The results of the research were published on September 23, 2020, in BMC Medicine.
Neu5Gc is a sugar molecule found in the tissues of mammals but not in poultry or fish. Humans develop antibodies to Neu5Gc in infancy, when they are first exposed to dairy and meat products. While it is known that these antibodies increase the risk of cancer, especially colorectal cancer, no direct link had been found between the antibodies and meat and dairy consumption.
For the study, the researchers used samples from NutriNet-Santé, an extensive national nutritional survey conducted in France. Salam Bashir, a PhD student in Dr. Padler-Karavani's lab, together with other team members measured the amount of Neu5Gc sugar in a variety of dairy and meat foods common in the French diet and calculated the daily Neu5Gc intake of 19,621 adults aged 18 and over, who reported all of their food intake online over a period of several days.
The research team then took a representative sample of 120 participants and tested the levels of the anti-Neu5Gc antibodies in their blood.
Based on these findings and the quantification of Neu5Gc sugar in various food products from France, Dr. Padler-Karavani and her team created an index called the Gcemic index. This index ranks foods whose excessive consumption can lead to an increase in the antibodies - and possibly to an increase in the risk of cancer.
We found a significant correlation between high consumption of Neu5Gc from red meat and cheeses and increased development of those antibodies that heighten the risk of cancer. For years there have been efforts to find such a connection, but no one did. Here, for the first time, we were able to find a molecular link thanks to the accuracy of the methods used to measure the antibodies in the blood and the detailed data from the French diet questionnaires."
Dr. Padler-Karavani, Department of Cell Research and Immunology at the Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research at Tel Aviv University's George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences
Dr. Padler-Karavani adds that this combination of methods allowed the researchers to predict that those who eat a lot of red meat and cheese will develop high levels and a different variety of the antibodies, and therefore may be at higher risk for cancer - especially colorectal cancer, but other cancers as well.
Source:
Journal reference:
Bashir, S., et al. (2020) Association between Neu5Gc carbohydrate and serum antibodies against it provides the molecular link to cancer: French NutriNet-Santé study. BMC Medicine. doi.org/10.1186/s12916-020-01721-8.
Posted in: Medical Science News | Medical Research News | Medical Condition News
Tags: Antibodies, B Cell, Biomedicine, Blood, Cancer, Cardiology, Cell, Cholesterol, Colorectal, Colorectal Cancer, Diet, Fish, Food, Heart, Heart Disease, High Cholesterol, Immunology, Meat, Medicine, Molecule, Research, T-Cell
FAQs
Researchers identify molecular connection between meat, dairy diets and cancer risk. An international team of researchers has identified a direct molecular link between meat and dairy diets and the development of antibodies in the blood that increase the chances of developing cancer.
Are meat and dairy linked to cancer? ›
red meat INCREASES the risk of colorectal cancer. processed meat INCREASES the risk of colorectal cancer. Cantonese-style salted fish INCREASES the risk of nasopharyngeal cancer. dairy products DECREASE the risk of colorectal cancer.
Is there a link between meat and cancer? ›
Eating processed meat increases your risk of bowel and stomach cancer. Red meat, such as beef, lamb and pork, has been classified as a Group 2A carcinogen which means it probably causes cancer. Did you know if you've had cancer, maintaining a healthy diet can help prevent it from coming back?
Do meat eaters have a higher risk of cancer? ›
In the multivariable-adjusted models (not including BMI), a vegetarian diet was associated with a lower risk of all cancer (HR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.80–0.93), postmenopausal breast cancer (0.82, 0.68–0.99), and prostate cancer (0.69, 0.54–0.89; Fig. 1A) in comparison to regular meat-eaters.
Which nutrient found in beef and dairy improved immune response to cancer? ›
Scientists at UChicago discover that trans-vaccenic acid (TVA), a fatty acid found in beef, lamb, and dairy products, improves the ability of immune cells to fight tumors.
Why can't you eat meat and dairy? ›
The Torah forbids the cooking and consumption of any milk with any meat to prevent one from cooking a kid in its mother's milk. According to Kabbalah, meat represents gevurah (the Divine attribute of Judgment) and milk represents chesed (the Divine attribute of Kindness).
What amino acids should be avoided with cancer? ›
Interestingly, cumulating research findings have demonstrated that amino acid (AA) restrictions play roles in cancer interventions, including glycine restriction [6], serine starvation [7–9], leucine deprivation [10], glutamine blockade [11, 12], asparagine [13] and methionine [14].
Should I eat meat if I have cancer? ›
You can eat meat if you have cancer or have had cancer. It's a good source of protein, iron, vitamin B12 and zinc. There's no evidence to suggest you should avoid meat. However, eating meat is not essential and you should make sure you eat a balanced diet.
Is there a link between food and cancer? ›
Summary. High-fat, low-fibre diets may increase the risk of many cancers including bowel, lung, prostate and uterine cancers. Reducing alcohol intake and maintaining a healthy body weight may reduce the risk of many cancers.
Are hamburgers processed meat? ›
What is processed meat? While many people think of processed meat as chow that has gone through some kind of mechanical process – like when beef is put into a grinder to be turned into hamburger meat – that isn't actually the case. "When fresh, ground beef or chicken is not considered processed meat," explains Dr.
Cooking meat at high temperature creates carcinogens
Grilling or barbequing will create both these carcinogens.
What diet has the lowest cancer rate? ›
Plant-based diets are full of fruits, vegetables and legumes, with little or no meat or other animal products. In research studies, vegans, people who don't eat any animal products, including fish, dairy or eggs, appeared to have the lowest rates of cancer of any diet.
Do vegans have less colon cancer? ›
Unfortunately, plant-based diets cannot reverse colon cancer. However, research suggests that following a plant-based diet may help reduce the risk of developing the cancer. In addition, plant-based diets tend to be rich in nutrients, which are important to support the immune system in cancer survivorship.
Is meat and dairy linked to cancer? ›
Researchers identify molecular connection between meat, dairy diets and cancer risk. An international team of researchers has identified a direct molecular link between meat and dairy diets and the development of antibodies in the blood that increase the chances of developing cancer.
What protein feeds cancer cells? ›
The protein twosome, PADI4 and HIF-1, ramp up their activity under low-oxygen conditions that are typically found in a fast-growing tumor, allowing it to build new blood vessels that feed the cancer's growth.
Which food group is most responsible for cancer prevention? ›
Cruciferous vegetables
Some of these compounds have shown anticancer effects in cells and animals, but the results of studies with humans have been less clear. For more information, see the Cruciferous Vegetables and Cancer Prevention fact sheet.
Can you eat meat from a cow with cancer? ›
If, by some chance, a meat product does contain cancerous cells, cooking it will kill them. And even if your steak tartare came from a cancer-afflicted cow, there's no evidence to suggest you'd suffer any ill effects.
Is dairy bad for cancer survivors? ›
With any cancer, there is the potential for the patient to experience weight loss. Having a good diet with adequate protein and calories is essential for the patient undergoing cancer treatment. Dairy products are a great source to help patients get adequate calories and protein during cancer treatment.
