A research team has discovered that substances found in the nucleic acids from our food can hinder the growth of specific cancer cells.
When individuals consume food, they take in nucleic acids that are present in all forms of life. According to a study published in PLOS ONE by Associate Professor Akiko Kojima-Yuasa from Osaka Metropolitan University and her team, these components might have the ability to restrict cancer cell growth.
Eating foods high in nucleic acids has been linked to enhanced immune function and the prevention of various diseases. The positive effects are mainly attributed to the nucleotides and nucleosides produced by the digestion of these acids.
Professor Kojima-Yuasa and her team investigated nucleic acid compounds derived from salmon milt DNA and torula yeast RNA. Their research demonstrated that chemical substances such as guanosine can inhibit the growth of certain cancer cells in laboratory rats by blocking the cells from entering their replication phase.
“Our study sheds new light on the biological roles of food-derived nucleic acids,” Professor Kojima-Yuasa noted. “We hope this represents an important advance in cancer prevention efforts.”
