Mannose a nutritional supplement found naturally in fruits such as cranberries can aid in slowing the growth of tumours and improve cancer treatment, a study has shown. The findings showed that mannose enhanced the effects of chemotherapy in mice with multiple types of cancer including leukaemia, osteosarcoma, ovarian and bowel cancer. It slowed tumour growth, reduced the size of tumours and even helped increase the lifespan of some mice. Tumours use more glucose than normal, healthy tissues. However, it is very hard to control the amount of glucose in your body through diet alone. Researchers found that mannose can interfere with glucose to reduce how much sugar cancer cells can use.
"Tumours need a lot of glucose to grow, so limiting the amount they can use should slow cancer progression. The problem is that normal tissues need glucose as well, so we can't completely remove it from the body.
"In our study, we found a dosage of mannose that could block enough glucose to slow tumour growth in mice, but not so much that normal tissues were affected," said lead author Kevin Ryan, Professor at the Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute.
latin and doxorubicin -- two of the most widely used chemotherapy drugs.
Some cells responded well to the treatment while others did not. It was also found that the presence of an enzyme that breaks down mannose in cells was a good indicator of how effective treatment.
Some common causes of cancer are:
Excessive smoking and drinking
Obesity
Physical inactivity
Gene mutation such as viruses, cancer-causing chemicals, inflammation and radiation
Have a look at some tips which can help prevent cancer:
Proper vaccines to prevent cancer is essential
Aim for a healthy and balanced diet
Protect yourself from the harmful radiation of the sun
Regular physical activity is a must to prevent cancer
Avoid excessive drinking and smoking
Try maintaining a healthy weight by eating healthy food and staying active
Avoid chewing tobacco
Regular medical checkups are must
Source - NDTV