Calorie Restriction versus Cancer, Viewed in Terms of Growth Signaling

The practice of calorie restriction, eating fewer calories while still obtaining sufficient micronutrients, is well demonstrated to reduce cancer risk in animal models, and also appears to improve outcomes in the case of an established cancer. This is similarly the case for practices such as intermittent fasting or fasting mimicking diets, the latter having undergone trials as an adjuvant therapy in human cancer patients. Researchers here review this topic through the lens of nutrient sensing and growth signaling in the body, such as the well studied pathways involving growth hormone and IGF-1. More growth means more DNA damage, and thus a greater risk of developing cancer. Greater growth signaling also aids an established cancer in all of the obvious ways. Many dietary patterns, including the Western diet, are associated with reduced lifespan and health span and appear to affect cancer incidence by two major hormonal axes/pathways: (1) the growth hormone-IGF-1; (2) the insulin signaling. Higher protein intake increases the release of growth hormone releasing hormone, and consequently growth hormone release from the pituitary gland and IGF-1 release primarily from the liver. High IGF-1 has been associated with elevated incidence of a number of cancers. Studies in simple organisms and mice, demonstrate the link between nutrients and particularly protein intake, growth factors, DNA damage, and cancer. The effect of growth factors on DNA damage and cancer is medi...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs