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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
A common yeast supplement could help the immune system fight cancer, new mouse research suggests. Scientists found that yeast beta-glucan reprogrammed early immune cells in the bone marrow, producing stronger, longer-lasting anti-tumor responses against colorectal, skin, and breast cancer. Remarkably, it also reversed immune damage caused by obesity — even after weight loss.
A yeast-based dietary supplement may hold the key to restoring the immune system's ability to fight cancer, according to new research from Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin published in Cell Reports. Scientists found that yeast beta-glucan — already widely available as a food-grade supplement — reprogrammed early immune cells in the bone marrow of obese mice, triggering stronger and more durable anti-tumor responses against colorectal, skin, and breast cancer cells.
What makes the findings especially notable is that the supplement worked orally, not via injection — a first for this type of immune training. It also reversed immune memory defects that persisted even after the mice lost weight, addressing a major clinical challenge since obesity's immune damage doesn't always resolve with weight loss alone.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: Obesity affects millions globally and significantly impairs immune function, raising cancer risk. A safe, accessible dietary supplement that could complement existing treatments like chemotherapy and immunotherapy — while also improving vaccine responses — would be a meaningful addition to the cancer-fighting toolkit.
