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A fatty acid found in beef, lamb, and dairy products, enhances the ability of immune cells to fight cancer.
A Nutrient Found in Beef and Dairy Helps Fight Cancer
Trans-vaccenic acid (TVA) – a fatty acid found in beef, lamb, and dairy products, enhances the ability of immune cells to fight malignant tumors.
The findings, published in the journal Nature, also showed that cancer patients with higher levels of trans-vaccenic acid (TVA) in their blood responded better to immunotherapy than those with lower levels[i].
Trans-vaccenic acid is a fatty acid found in breast milk but is mainly obtained through diet. It has been proven to help immune cells known as CD8+ T cells invade tumors and destroy cancer cells.
Findings suggest that TVA could be a dietary supplement to complement clinical cancer treatments.
Researchers conducted experiments on mice and analyzed blood samples from patients with lymphoma.
In rodents following a TVA-enriched diet, there was a significant reduction in the growth of melanoma tumors and colorectal cancer cells compared to mice fed a diet without TVA.
Subsequently, the research team analyzed blood samples taken from patients undergoing immunotherapy for lymphoma and found that patients with higher levels of TVA responded better to immunotherapy than those with lower levels.
They also tested leukemia cells developed in the laboratory and saw that TVA enhanced the ability of the immunotherapy drug to kill leukemia cells.
Meat Consumption & Health
We often hear that red meat is detrimental to health. The truth is that this applies to the consumption of processed red meat, such as deli meats, hot dogs, sausages, fast food meats.
In our clinical experience consumption of red meat from ruminants, such as beef, lamb, and goat, is associated with better health indicators and increased lifespan.
Meat is a nutrient-rich food critical for human health, especially in chronic inflammation conditions. In chronic inflammation, there is an increased need for nutrients to repair tissues.
The "Harvard carnivore diet study" analyzed the health and disease outcomes of 2029 adults who ate animal foods for 14 months[ii].
The study conclusions were: "Contrary to common expectations, adults consuming a carnivore diet experienced few adverse effects and instead reported health benefits and high satisfaction. Cardiovascular disease risk factors were variably affected."
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Image: Harvard carnivore diet study findings
Additionally, a study that analyzed data from 175 countries concluded that higher meat consumption is associated with a longer lifespan[iii].
It's intriguing that Hong Kong, which leads the world in meat consumption, also reports the highest life expectancy at 85.5 years[iv][v]. This compelling fact adds weight to the argument that a meat-rich diet might be critical in promoting a longer lifespan. While this correlation does not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, it indicates that consuming more meat does not adversely affect health and can even positively influence longevity.
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Bibliographic references
[i] Trans-vaccenic acid reprograms CD8+ T cells and anti-tumour immunity. Hao Fan et al. Nature 22 Nov. 2023
[ii] Behavioral Characteristics and Self-Reported Health Status among 2029 Adults Consuming a “Carnivore Diet” Author links open overlay panelBelinda S Lennerz et al. Current Developments in Nutrition December 2021.
[iii] Total Meat Intake is Associated with Life Expectancy: A Cross-Sectional Data Analysis of 175 Contemporary Populations. Wenpeng You et al. Int J Gen Med. 2022
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