Reduction in Asparagine diet reduces Breast Cancer

Source: Pixabay

Certain food diets and habits are currently on trial for their direct or indirect links to the development of cancer in the body. Some of these food substances have been shown with evidence. You can find where I wrote about Coffee consumption can give you cancer and there others such as French fries, hydrogenated oils, canned tomatoes, microwaved popcorns, red meat and so on.
You may want to check my post on the latest discovery on cancer treatment CancerSEEK: A single blood test that can detect 8 common cancer
Someone might say is there no food left for us to eat (smiles), there are definitely hundreds of food regarded as safe. We will be discussing that later on. Amongst frequent habits, smoking is believed to cause lung cancer because it contains carcinogenic substances, wearing cellphones in the bra by females has also been flagged, sitting too much on one's butt is also a risk factor for the development of cancer and so on. Today’s post really isn't about these habits but is majorly on diets and the latest discovery as reported on February 7 in Nature. And titled Asparagine Bioavailability Governs Metastasis in a Model of Breast Cancer. reduction in consumption of food substance rich in asparagine has been shown to drastically reduce the spread of breast cancer.
Journey with me on this...

What is Asparagine?
Asparagine is a naturally occurring non-essential amino acid present in many diets and food substance and can also be synthesized by the human body from central metabolic pathway intermediates. Basically, we don’t need asparagine in our diet because it isn't among essential amino since it can be synthesized by our body hence it is dispensable.

Asparagine 3D-Conformer
Source: PubChem
Animal sources of asparagine includes dairy, beef, poultry fish, seafood while plant sources include potatoes, legumes, soy, legumes while foods low in asparagine includes fruits and vegetables

Good news about breast cancer
According to the result of a recent study published in the February 7th 2018 in Nature, reduction in the diet in-take of asparagine can significantly reduce the cause of breast cancer, especially in women. in the words of Prof Greg Hannon, the lead scientist in the study who also doubles as the director of the Cancer Research UK Cancer Institute Cambridge,

This is a very promising lead and one of the very few instances where there is a scientific rationale for a dietary modification influencing cancer

The study carried out showed how the spread of breast cancer in animals (mouse models) can be reduced by blocking asparagine with a drug called L-asparaginase. This finding was further confirmed by an examination of data obtained from a breast cancer patient.

Lesson learned

From the above study and revelations, the listed diets are not to be condemned in totality but it is important to note that they are rich asparagine hence their consumption must be strictly regulated. Going by Simon Knott Ph.D. statement

Our study adds to a growing body of evidence that suggests diet can influence the course of the disease,"

If future research confirms these findings in human cells, asparagine consumption in cancer patients might be strictly regulated.

References

1. Asparagine https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/L-asparagine#section=3D-Conformer
2. Asparagine Bioavailability Governs Metastasis in a Model of Breast Cancer https://www.nature.com/articles/nature25465
3. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/feb/07/cutting-asparagus-could-prevent-spread-of-breast-cancer-study-shows
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