Taking antioxidant supplements, such as vitamin C, may help existing lung cancer tumours grow and spread
Taking antioxidant supplements like vitamins C and E may stimulate the formation of blood vessels within lung tumors, causing them to grow bigger and spread, according to a study conducted in mice. However, it is important to note that people with lung cancer should not completely avoid these antioxidants in their diet, as they play important roles in overall health. The harm occurs when individuals consume excessive amounts of these antioxidants through supplements.
Prior research by Martin Bergö and his team at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden demonstrated that supplementing antioxidants like vitamin E and n-acetylcysteine caused the spread of lung cancer in mice.
To further investigate this phenomenon, Bergö and his new team of researchers studied mice with murine-specific lung cancer as well as mice implanted with human lung cancer cells. They supplemented the mice’s water with vitamin C (which the animals naturally produce), vitamin E, and n-acetylcysteine (obtained from their diet).
The supplements were given at increasing doses, resulting in antioxidant levels that far exceeded what was necessary. Bergö explains that many individuals nowadays have healthy diets, take various supplements, and consume things like ginger shots and smoothies, leading to excessive antioxidant levels.
The researchers found that as the mice received higher doses of antioxidants, the rate of blood vessel formation within the tumors increased. This was observed in both mice with murine lung cancer and those with implanted human cancer cells. The enhanced blood vessel growth likely contributes to tumor growth and spreading, although this aspect was not directly studied.
Bergö emphasizes that individuals with cancer should not make drastic changes to their diet based solely on this research. Removing all antioxidants from food can have adverse effects on health, such as vitamin deficiencies, which can further influence cancer. The focus of the study is primarily on excessive doses of antioxidants beyond what is necessary.
In another part of the experiment, the researchers examined human and mice lung cancer tumor organoids, which are clusters of cells grown in the lab. After exposing the organoids to higher-than-necessary doses of the three antioxidants, they observed that the antioxidants neutralized free oxygen radicals within the organoids.
Previous research by Bergö and his team suggested that a protein called BACH1 contributes to tumor growth following vitamin E and n-acetylcysteine supplementation. The current study shows that BACH1 is activated when there is a decrease in free oxygen radical levels, leading to the formation of blood vessels.
With further investigation, these findings could potentially lead to new approaches for treating certain cancers. Blood vessel growth inhibitors are commonly used in cancer treatment but can have serious side effects, such as blood clots. However, they may be more effective in individuals with high levels of BACH1 in their tumors, which can result from both supplementation and genetic mutations.
Although the experiments focused on lung cancer tumors, the researchers also examined genomic databases for other types of cancer that may have elevated BACH1 levels. They discovered that kidney and breast tumors often have high BACH1 levels, suggesting that blood vessel growth inhibitors could be more targeted in individuals with increased BACH1 levels, which can be screened for.
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