Calorie intake linked to cell lifespan, cancer development

Washington, Dec 18 (ANI): Restricting consumption of glucose can extend the life of healthy human-lung cells and speed the death of precancerous human-lung cells, reducing cancer's spread and growth rate, say researchers.

Boffins from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) conducted tests by growing both healthy human-lung cells and precancerous human-lung cells in laboratory flasks. The flasks were provided either normal levels of glucose or significantly reduced amounts of the sugar compound, and the cells then were allowed to grow for a period of weeks.

Principal investigator Trygve Tollefsbol, Ph.D., D.O., a professor in the Department of Biology, said: "In that time, we were able to track the cells' ability to divide while also monitoring the number of surviving cells. The pattern that was revealed to us showed that restricted glucose levels led the healthy cells to grow longer than is typical and caused the precancerous cells to die off in large numbers."

The expert added: "These results further verify the potential health benefits of controlling calorie intake.

"Our research indicates that calorie reduction extends the lifespan of healthy human cells and aids the body's natural ability to kill off cancer-forming cells." (ANI)