Latest news with #MemorialCareCancerInstitute
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A New Study Revealed That Energy Drinks May Boost Cancer Growth. Here's What To Know
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." A new study in Nature shows that energy drinks contain an ingredient that may increase cancer cell growth. This is mostly important to know if you already have certain types of cancer. Here's what else you should be aware of, according to experts. If you've ever pulled a late night at the college library or at your office, you may have reached for an energy drink or two for a little boost. But aside from their super high caffeine content, new research has uncovered a link between a common ingredient in energy drinks and the growth of certain cancer cells. An important caveat: The study didn't find that energy drinks will give you cancer. Rather, it suggests that the common energy drink ingredient taurine can fuel the growth of cancerous cells if you already have certain types of cancer. Here's what doctors want you to keep in mind, based on these findings. Meet the experts: Wael Harb, MD, hematologist and medical oncologist at MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast and Saddleback Medical Centers in Orange County, CA; Jeevisha Bajaj, PhD, study co-author, an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Genetics, and a cancer researcher at the Wilmot Cancer Institute at the University of Rochester In the study, which was published in the journal Nature, researchers tried to stop leukemia, a type of cancer that impacts the bone marrow and blood, from growing in human cancer cells and mouse models. The researchers used genetic tools to block taurine—a common ingredient in energy drinks like Red Bull, Monster, and Rockstar—from entering leukemia cells. That cut off a resource that the cancer needed to survive. 'As we were charactering the changes taking place in non-cancer 'normal' non-blood forming cells in that environment, we discovered that taurine can be produced by bone-forming cells,' says study co-author Jeevisha Bajaj, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Genetics and a cancer researcher at the Wilmot Cancer Institute at the University of Rochester. 'Our body makes taurine naturally, but it was new information to find that it was produced in this way in the bone marrow.' The researchers then found that when they blocked taurine from entering leukemia cells, the disease outcome improved. Taurine can be used by leukemia cells to encourage metabolic changes, including the breakdown of glucose (blood sugar) to create energy, Bajaj says. 'Metabolic changes are changes in cells that provide energy or fuel for its functions,' she adds. Basically, leukemia cells use taurine for energy. 'The cancer cells can hijack the taurine to fuel their growth,' says Wael Harb, MD, a hematologist and medical oncologist at MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast and Saddleback Medical Centers in Orange County, CA. 'They use taurine to help them multiply more quickly.' Taurine is a naturally-occurring amino acid that may help regulate blood pressure, improve cardiac fitness, and enhance a person's vascular health. It may also have some anti-aging properties. 'It's also found in many foods and popular energy drinks,' Dr. Harb says. Taurine is 'generally safe' to have in energy drinks, Dr. Harb says. However, it may help some cancerous cells to grow more quickly. 'That doesn't mean that taurine causes cancer,' he says. 'But in people who already have cancer, it may fuel it.' As a result, doctors say you don't need to stop drinking energy drinks if you're healthy. The researchers agree. 'We do not have any evidence that taurine, or any other ingredient in energy drinks, can increase the risk of leukemia in healthy people,' Bajaj says. If you have leukemia, Harb recommends talking to your doctor about whether you have energy drinks and how often. 'But more research is still needed on how to manage taurine with cancer care,' he says. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
This Vitamin Lowers Your Risk of a Common Cancer, Study Finds
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." New research suggests good vitamin D levels may lower the risk of developing colorectal cancer. This isn't the first study to find a link between vitamin D and colorectal cancer risk. Experts recommend staying on top of your vitamin D status An estimated 1.4 million Americans live with colorectal cancer, and rates of the disease have been increasing in younger people for years. While there's been a lot of emphasis on colorectal cancer screenings, many people also want to do what they can to lower the risk of developing this form of cancer in the first place. Now, new research suggests that your vitamin D levels may play a role in how likely you are to develop colorectal cancer. And, as 18% of Americans have inadequate vitamin D levels, the findings are eyebrow-raising. Of course, colorectal cancer is a complicated disease, and it's hard to say that low vitamin D alone would cause someone to develop it. But the study is part of a growing body of data that has found a link between vitamin D and colorectal cancer. Meet the experts: Wael Harb, M.D., a medical oncologist at MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast and Saddleback Medical Centers in Orange County, CA; Jessica Cording, R.D., C.D.N., author of The Little Book of Game-Changers; Scott Keatley, R.D., of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy; Veronika Fedirko, Ph.D., associate professor of cancer prevention at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Mónika Fekete, Ph.D., lead study author and professor in the Institute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at Semmelweis University. Here's what the study found, plus what experts want you to know. The study, which was published in the journal Nutrients, analyzed data from 50 studies on adults who had colorectal cancer, who had a documented vitamin D deficiency, or who were given a vitamin D supplement. The researchers found that vitamin D deficiency is strongly linked to a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer. 'Maintaining optimal vitamin D levels and adequate dietary intake is crucial in preventing colorectal cancer and improving patient prognosis,' the researchers wrote in the study. Vitamin D deficiency and colorectal cancer have been linked in the past. One study of more than 12,000 people found that those who have lower levels of vitamin D in their blood had a 31% higher risk of developing colorectal cancer than those with better vitamin D levels. Another study found that people who had high levels of vitamin D in their diet had a 25% lower risk of developing colorectal cancer. Data from the Nurses' Health Study also discovered that women with the highest vitamin D intake had a 58% lower risk of developing colorectal cancer compared with people who had lower levels of vitamin D. 'These findings are reinforced by a substantial body of epidemiological data, making vitamin D one of the most biologically plausible and extensively studied nutritional factors in colorectal cancer risk reduction,' says Veronika Fedirko, Ph.D., associate professor of cancer prevention at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. 'While some randomized clinical trials have shown mixed results—often due to factors such as dosage, timing, or baseline vitamin D concentrations—the association demonstrated in observational studies remains consistent and strongly supported by biological evidence.' There are a few things that could be behind this, according to Wael Harb, M.D., a medical oncologist at MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast and Saddleback Medical Centers in Orange County, CA. A big factor is that vitamin D impacts your immune system, he says. 'Vitamin D modulates immune responses,' he says. Specifically, vitamin D interacts with the vitamin D receptor (VDR), which is in colon tissue, explains Scott Keatley, R.D., of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy. 'When activated, VDR can influence gene expression related to cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, which are all central processes in cancer development,' he says. 'Low vitamin D levels may weaken these protective effects, allowing abnormal cells in the colon to survive and multiply.' Vitamin D may also help reduce inflammation in the body (and gut), 'which could potentially impact tumor development,' Dr. Harb says. On the flip side, having lower levels of vitamin D can let inflammation in your intestines go unchecked, raising the risk that colorectal cancer will develop, he explains. 'While vitamin D is not a substitute for screening or a healthy lifestyle, it is an important and relatively modifiable factor worth paying attention to—especially in individuals at higher risk of deficiency, such as older adults, people with limited sun exposure, those with darker skin, or individuals with chronic illnesses,' says Mónika Fekete, Ph.D., lead study author and professor in the Institute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at Semmelweis University. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin D varies by person and age, but most adults should get 600 international units (IU) daily, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Adults aged 70 and up should have 800 IU of vitamin D, per the NIH. There are a few symptoms that can suggest you're low on vitamin D. According to Jessica Cording, R.D., C.D.N., author of The Little Book of Game-Changers, the most common ones she sees are: Fatigue Brain fog Low mood Poor immune system function (i.e. getting sick a lot) Bone fractures (in severe cases) Still, Keatley says that most people with low vitamin D levels don't have symptoms. That's why it's important to ask your doctor about checking your vitamin D levels. 'A blood test is the most reliable way to get a sense of whether you have adequate vitamin D levels,' Cording says. Most people get vitamin D from exposure to the sun, but you can also get it from foods. The biggest food sources of vitamin D are cod liver oil, trout, salmon, mushrooms, fortified milk, and fortified cereal, according to the NIH. However, Cording says that some people can benefit from a vitamin D supplement. Dr. Harb says we aren't at the level yet in colorectal cancer prevention of recommending that everyone take a vitamin D supplement. However, he says that your vitamin D levels should be checked during your annual check-up to make sure they're OK. 'Testing is especially important if you have limited sun exposure or frequent use of sunscreen (which is important for skin cancer prevention), darker skin, digestive disorders, chronic health conditions, older age, or are overweight or obese,' Dr. Fedirko says. 'The test is simple and can be arranged through your healthcare provider.' If your levels of vitamin D are low, Keatley recommends looking for supplements with vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). 'It's more effective at raising blood levels than D2,' he says. A dose of 1,000–2,000 IU daily is common, per Keatley, but it's important to talk to your doctor about dosing recommendations before taking a vitamin D supplement.$19.00 at at at at Wondering when's the best time to take vitamin D? 'Vitamin D is fat-soluble, so take it with a meal that contains fat for better absorption,' Keatley says. If you're concerned about your vitamin D status or your colorectal cancer risk, talk to your doctor. They should be able to answer your questions and provide personalized guidance from there. Dietary supplements are products intended to supplement the diet. They are not medicines and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure diseases. Be cautious about taking dietary supplements if you are pregnant or nursing. Also, be careful about giving supplements to a child, unless recommended by their healthcare provider. You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
