Beef and Milk Nutrient Shows Promise in Cancer Treatment

Trans-vaccenic acid, found in these foods, activates tumour-fighting immune cells, but researchers caution against excessive consumption due to health risks.

• Trans-vaccenic acid (TVA), a fatty acid found in beef and milk, has shown potential in fighting several types of cancer by activating tumour-fighting immune cells.
• Studies have shown that people with lymphoma cancer who have higher levels of TVA in their blood tend to respond better to immunotherapy than those with lower levels.
• TVA promotes the anti-tumour activity of CD8+ T-cells, a group of immune cells that are critical for killing cancerous cells.
• Mice with skin cancer or colon cancer had significantly reduced tumour growth when they ate a TVA-enriched diet.
• Despite these findings, researchers caution against consuming excessive amounts of meat or dairy to acquire the fatty acid due to the associated health risks.

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