Nutrient found in beef and milk shows promise against several cancers
A fatty acid found in beef and milk attacked different types of cancerous cells in a series of lab and animal experiments
By Christa Lesté-Lasserre
22 November 2023
Beef contains a fatty acid that could be used to treat cancer alongside existing therapies
Alpegor/Alamy
A nutrient found in beef and milk could target several different types of cancer by activating tumour-fighting immune cells. With further research, this suggests the substance could be used to supplement existing cancer treatments.
Trans-vaccenic acid (TVA), a long-chain fatty acid found in the meat and dairy products of grazing ruminants such as cows and sheep, promoted the destruction of certain types of cancer cells in a series of laboratory and animal studies. People with lymphoma cancer who have higher levels of TVA in their blood also tend to respond better to immunotherapy than those with lower levels.
Diet can have substantial effects on our health, says Jing Chen at the University of Chicago. However, studying the extent of those effects is complicated given that such a wide variety of food is available, with variations in how it is prepared.
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To home in on these effects, Chen and his colleagues created a library of 255 nutritional compounds, including different proteins and fats.
They then turned their attention to the compounds that might specifically support or enhance the activation of certain T-cells, immune cells involved in the body’s response to cancer. The researchers tested the effects of the top six candidates on various kinds of T-cells extracted from mice, which resulted in them homing in on a particularly potent nutrient – TVA.
TVA is one of several kinds of fatty acids and it is transferred to people when they consume meat or milk from ruminants. Humans only break down about 20 per cent of TVA in their bodies, “so it is not considered a major fatty acid for nutrition”, says Chen.
