Dietary fiber, often praised for its health benefits, remains neglected in our daily diet. These intakes, around 20 g/day on average in adults, are too low compared to the recommendations of theConsidered30 g/d. However, a recent study conducted by Stanford Medicine and published in the journal Nature Metabolismhas just highlighted the anti-cancer effects of this nutrient.
Researchers found that fiber digestion could directly change gene expression. These changes play a crucial role in preventing uncontrolled cell growth, an underlying mechanism of cancer.
A lever against cancer
When a person consumes fiber, the gut microbiome produces short-chain fatty acids. These compounds are not only a source of energy for the body. Scientists have long suspected that they also play a role in gene regulation.
The study confirms this hypothesis by tracing the effects of these fatty acids on healthy human cells, colon cancer cells, treated or not, and on the intestines of mice.
« We discovered a direct link between fiber consumption and modulation of gene function that has anti-cancer effects. We think this is likely a global mechanism, because short-chain fatty acids from fiber digestion can circulate throughout the body.”explains Michael Snyder, professor of genetics at Stanford, in a press release.
A path to improving public health
« In general, people’s diets are very low in fiber, which means their microbiome is not nourished properly and cannot produce as many short-chain fatty acids as it should. This is not doing our health any favors. », underlines Michael Snyder.
These new data come in a context where colon cancer rates are increasing among young adults. They could encourage additional research into the combined effects of diet and cancer treatments. Understanding the genetic targets of these fatty acids could open the way to new preventive and therapeutic strategies.
« By identifying the genetic targets of these important molecules, we can understand how fiber exerts its beneficial effects and what goes wrong during cancer. », concludes the researcher.
Source: www.topsante.com
