Asparagus increases the spread of breast cancer: Study

A recent study published in the journal Nature has created a sort of panic among people who consume asparagus in their diet. People began browsing the internet to know the relationship between Asparagus and cancer. The study found that Aspargine, the compound found in the Asparagus is responsible for the spread of breast cancer in the body. However, the research was carried out in mice and might not be the same case with humans. Also, Aspargine was not found to cause cancer but spread triple negative breast cancer more rapidly in the mice bodies.

Foods that contain Asparagine:

Researchers believe that if the further research confirms cancer was spreading nature of Aspargine in humans, then this may pave the way for developing new methods for treating cancer. However, Asparagine is present in almost all the foods we consume. It is particularly rich in protein foods such as Meat, poultry, eggs, fish, seafood, potatoes, and legumes, etc. Even our body synthesizes the amino acid Asparagine. But there are only a few studies that suggest the relationship between the diet and cancer. Except for asparagus most of the vegetables and fruits contain less amount of Asparagine.

Knowing the functioning of Aspargine in the body would help in designing better drugs for cancer treatment. Researchers further believe that by injecting a Leukemia chemotherapy drug L-Asparaginase it may be possible to inhibit the spread of cancer in the body. Researchers gave mice L-Asparaginase five times a week for 19 days. They also fed the mouse with low aspargine diet. They observed the reduction in the spread of breast cancer to other parts of the body.

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 Lead study author and Cambridge University cancer researcher Greg Hannon said that “When the availability of asparagine was reduced, we saw little impact on the primary tumour in the breast, but tumour cells had reduced capacity for metastases in other parts of the body,”

 The current research though it looks promising, more work has to done to find a proper solution in the future for the treatment of this deadly disease. The study is published in the journal Nature.