The effect of diet in cancer treatment

Rak nastaje kao posljedica nepravilnog rada regulacijskih mehanizama stanice. Tumorske se stanice, obzirom da ne odgovaraju na signale kontrole rasta, ubrzano dijele i širenjem zahvaćaju i normalna tkiva. Značajan utjecaj na nastanak i razvoj takvih stanica imaju prehrana te fizička aktivnost. Glavni izvor energije im je glukoza, a metaboliziraju je pomoću aerobne glikolize (Warbug efekt) u znatno većim količinama od normalnih stanica. Osim glukoze, na rast i razvoj tumorskih stanica utječu i razine inzulina, inzulinu sličnog čimbenika rasta (IGF-1) te leptina, a sve navedeno može se regulirati prehranom. Upravo se zbog toga proučava učinak posta te pojedinih dijeta na prevenciju i liječenje raka. Takvi protokoli prehrane potiču autofagiju zdravih stanica što ih štiti od toksičnih utjecaja kemoterapije dok tumorske stanice postaju osjetljivije na istu. Također, uvelike smanjuju i popratne nuspojave takvog liječenja. Osim dijeta, proučava se i djelovanje pojedinih nutrijenata te se ovisno o potrebnim razinama istih primjenjuje njihova suplementacija, odnosno restrikcija u prehrani.Cancer develops as a result of irregular functioning of the regulatory mechanisms of the cell. Because tumour cells do not respond to growth control signals, they divide rapidly and spread to normal tissues. Diet and physical activity have a significant impact on the formation and development of such cells. Their main source of energy is glucose which they metabolize by aerobic glycolysis (Warbug effect) in much larger amount than normal cells do. In addition to glucose, the growth and development of tumour cells are also affected by the levels of insulin, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) and leptin, all of which can be regulated by diet. That is why the effect of fasting and certain diets on the prevention and treatment of cancer is being studied. Such dietary protocols promote autophagy in healthy cells which protects them from the toxic effects of chemotherapy while making tumour cells more sensitive to it. They also greatly reduce the side effects of such treatment. In addition to diet, the effect of certain nutrients is also being studied, and depending on the required levels, their supplementation or restriction in the diet is applied