Reducing Calories Reduces Cancer Risks - But How?

niehs.nih.govri 7.htmOpen ↗ A diet
low in calories dramatically reduces cancer progression in
rodents. The same effect is expected to occur in humans and
might, in part, explain the diet's contribution to cancer
prevention. Although there are hypotheses to explain this
observed effect, only recently has a molecular explanation
been developed. NIEHS scientists discovered that a protein,
insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), was important to this
effect. This protein is part of the molecular machinery that
controls cell growth and cell death and, thus, tumor
development. In both humans and rats, a low-calorie diet
reduces the level of IGF-1 the body produces. In rodents, it
was shown that lower levels of IGF-1 favor cell death over
cell growth, thus slowing tumor progression. Furthermore,
these scientists showed that in rodents under caloric
restriction, bladder cancer progression was increased when
IGF-1 serum levels were restored, giving further credence to
its role in enhancing tumor growth. This finding provides
insight into potential strategies for slowing cancer growth

niehs.nih.govdiet.htmOpen ↗ Anth