
Early-Stage Discoveries: Magnesium, SAMe, Amino Acids, Tocotrienols, Carotene
Good results in the lab can lead to larger human trials. Here are some of the most promising recent findings.
Magnesium and cancer
Doctors have discovered immune T-cells must be activated by magnesium in order to attack pathogens and tumors. A protein molecule called LFA-1 operates on a specific tumor-attacking T-cell—
CD8+—helping it sense and respond to magnesium.
An oncologist from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, commented, “This study reported an unexpected magnesium-sensing mechanism allowing T-cells to be activated properly.”
Study doctors said, “Magnesium is a critical catalyzer of the specific CD8+ T-cell function, taking center stage now in infection and cancer-directed immunity.”
Reference: Cell; 2022, Vol. 185, No. 4, 585-602
SAMe, betaine, taurine, and BCAA regulate lipids
In type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, fat accumulates in the liver and insulin resistance increases. In the lab, doctors pretreated liver cells with SAMe, betaine, taurine, and branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) for 24 hours before exposing the cells to high glucose and palmitic acid to stimulate high sugar-high fat environments.
The nutrient combination acted on genes involved in fat- and glucose metabolism, improving cellular lipid handling, inhibiting triglycerides, and rebalancing glucose levels, which doctors said may prevent metabolic syndrome.
Reference 3: Nutrients; 2022, Vol. 14, No. 15, Article No. 3050
Tocotrienols and carotene protect lung health
One of the side effects after Covid infection is the rapid progression of lung-scarring pulmonary fibrosis (PF), with mild to severe symptoms. In the lab, doctors gave rats with PF a placebo, or tocotrienol or carotene, separately or together.
After 28 days, both tocotrienol and carotene groups had improved lung function, with lower levels of lung fibrosis factors, and restored anti-inflammatory and antioxidant status. Doctors concluded there is a potential for tocotrienol and carotene to treat and help prevent pulmonary fibrosis.
Reference 2: Nutrients; 2022, Vol. 14, No. 5, Article No. 1094
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