Researchers have recently discovered that the omega-3 fatty acid DHA can kill cancer cells while babies are in vitro.
Scientists tested the effect of DHA on cultured neuroblastoma cells (common cells associated with infancy and childhood cancers) and analyzed them for DHA’s metabolic byproducts. They found that while DHA itself destroyed the cancer cells, the fatty acid’s derivatives were even more effective at killing these cells.
According to Life Extension Magazine, “The current study and previous research show that while DHA has been demonstrated to help protect neural cells from stress-induced apoptosis (programmed cell death), it also induces apoptosis in neuroblastoma cells.” Study author Helena Gleissman PhD says “We hope that this study can provide a deeper understanding of the actions of omega-3 fatty acids and their products in cancer cells, and why they can be of such high importance in treatment of the disease.”
Source: lef.org
Painkillers
Researchers report that common pain killers such as aspirin may be connected to cancer cells self-destruction.
They report that the connection between taking anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and lower occurences of some cancers caused them to investigate how one such drug, which is used to treat fever and pain, could have the effect of causing the death of cancer cells.
Researchers: Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif
