Marc Joseph Nutrition - Blog

Researchers from the from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology have found what could be a potentially important link between inflammation and cancer:

[T]he study, published in the January 26 issue of the journal Cell, shows that what scientists thought were two distinct processes in cells—the cells’ normal development and the cells’ response to dangers such as invading organisms—are actually linked. The researchers . . . say that the linkage of these two processes may explain why cancer, which is normal growth and development gone awry, can result from chronic inflammation, which is an out-of-control response to danger.

Here’s a visual depiction of that concept:

Normal dialogue between cell defense and development (left) and chronic inflammation leading to hyperactive developmental signaling that may promote cancer (right). (Credit: Alexander Hoffmann, UCSD)

Specifically, the research team found a protein that is common to both inflammation and cancer development pathways:

[The research] team showed that these pathways are not distinct from one another because they are linked by a protein called p100. They found that inflammation leads to an increase in p100, but that p100 is also used in certain steps in development. Therefore p100 allows communication between inflammation and development.

Importance of Balance

Your body needs some inflammation to fend off invaders (bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.), but excessive, chronic inflammation is detrimental and implicated in many chronic conditions (e.g., cancer, diabetes, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, etc.). You need a balance.

To be clear, the inflammation I’m referring to is not necessarily visible or felt. It’s not like a red, swollen joint or a scratch on your arm. This inflammation is chronic and low-level, like invisible fires simmering underneath the surface. But over time, this inflammation causes damage to the cells, tissues, and systems of your body, and in turn, leads to the development of disease.

The Role of Nutrition

Nutrition can play an important role in helping to keep inflammation in check. For example:

• Omega-3 fats, as found in fish oil, can help to reduce inflammation. These fats produce substances (prostaglandins) that inhibit inflammation in cells throughout the body.
• Conversely, excess consumption of most Omega-6 fats, as found in vegetables oils, such as the corn and soybean oils used in high amounts in processed and restaurant-prepared foods, can promote the production of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins.
• One Omega-6 fat, gamma linolenic acid (GLA), found in borage, evening primrose, and black currant oils, actually can help to promote the production of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins, as well as encourage normal cell death (apoptosis) — a primary process gone awry in cancer.
• Trans fats promote chronic inflammation.
• High sugar and refined grain intake, and the resulting chronically elevated blood glucose and insulin levels, is another primary cause of chronic inflammation.

There are numerous other substances found in both foods and supplements that can help to reduce and/or manage chronic inflammation, including:

• Vitamin D (primary source: sunshine)
• Tumeric
• Ginger
• Boswellia
• And many others …

Avoiding chronic inflammation is one of the most important steps you can take in helping to reduce the risk of developing many chronic diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, cognitive decline, arthritis, and more.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 31st, 2007 at 12:30 am and is filed under Cancer, Inflammation, Essential Fatty Acids - EFAs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.