On 1/1/2007
Patricia1 wrote:
Does anyone out there know if nutrition or supplements make any difference when you have a brain tumor?
Thank you
Pat
Hi Patricia.
No
concrete evidence has shown that certain supplements or dietaryc
changes affect changes in brain tumors. The biggest problem is in
what is known as the BBB (Blood Brain Barrier). It is the groups
of vessels that surround the brain that can expand and contract (like a
fine mesh), to let in only certain nutrients and molecules.
Because of the size of most molecules, many can't get through--and with
good reason. Most food is turned into a protein called ATP
(Adenosine Triphosphate). It's basically the fuel for
cells. Glucose is also a fuel that is broken down by the body and
stored in the muscles and liver as glycogen. Crazy thing is, is
that the brain uses about 70% of the available blood glucose Glycogen
that's been coverted to glucose to flow through the blood; glucose is
more effective)--that's why people get woozy if the exercise too hard
without eating well. There are vitamins essential to nerve
function, such as B1 and B12, and minerals such as magnesium.
These feed mostly the nerves outside the brain. But, the problem
with cancerous tumors, is that they take up enormous amounts of fuel as
well--they even grow their own vessels to reach out for more!
What pigs! So, therein lies the problem . . . how to basically
"starve" the tumors when vitamins and good eating habits enhance brain
function. Kind of a catch 22. There has been research
showing that a diet that in creases oxidative stress (free radicals)
can cause more apoptosis (programmed cell death) in tumors. But,
this has only been shwon in mice, and not a big enough control group
has been used yet. Eating well, staying fit and reducing stress
can have some modest effects. So far, the best hope are therapies
called TNT (tumor necrosis therapy) that uses cells called monoclonal
antibodies to deliver deadly drugs to the tumors--and not healthy
tissue--because they can bridge the blood brain barrier.
I hope this helps a little.
-Take care, good luck and keep researching.
-Christopher