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NEWS REVIEWS
SUGARY SUPPLEMENT MANNOSE
COULD HELP FIGHT CANCER
A nutritional supplement may be able to slow the development of some cancers and enhance
the effects of treatment, a study in mice suggests.
Mice with pancreatic, lung or skin
cancer were given mannose, a
sugar also found in cranberries and
other fruits.
finding this perfect balance
It significantly slowed the growth of means that, in the future, UPCOMING EVENTS
their tumours, with no obvious side-
effects, researchers found. mannose could be given to
cancer patients
However, patients are being told not
to start supplementing with mannose EVENT DATE LOCATION
because of the risk of side-effects.
Scientists hope to test the
supplement in people soon.
Some cells responded well, while And Prof Ryan said he hoped tests European Society for Medical
Mannose, which can be bought others did not. in people could begin soon. Oncology (ESMO) Summit Africa 15 - 17 Feb Cape Town, Western Cape
in health food shops and is 2019 2019
sometimes used to treat urinary How well the cells responded However, he and other experts
tract infections, is thought to appeared to depend on the levels warn that the findings do not mean
interfere with the ability of tumours they had of an enzyme that breaks people with cancer should start
to use glucose to grow. down mannose. supplementing with mannose.
• The hospitals that fail to treat Lead author Prof Kevin Ryan, from Martin Ledwick, Cancer Research 3rd International Conference & 25 - 26 Feb 2019 Durban, KwaZulu Natal
patients on time the Cancer Research UK Beatson UK’s head nurse, said: “Although Expo on HIV & AIDS
• Early risers have lower breast Institute, said his team had found these results are very promising
cancer risk a dosage of mannose that “could for the future of some cancer
block enough glucose to slow treatments, this is very early
‘Perfect balance’ tumour growth in mice but not so research and has not yet been
much that normal tissues were tested in humans. 6th World Congress on Nursing & 25 - 26 Feb 2019 Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Scientists also looked at how affected”. Healthcare
mannose might affect cancer “Patients should not self-prescribe
treatment by giving it to mice Bodies require glucose for energy mannose, as there is a real risk of
that had been treated with but cancerous tumours also use it negative side-effects that haven’t
two of the most widely used to fuel their growth. been tested for yet.
chemotherapy drugs, cisplatin International Society for
and doxorubicin. “This is early research but “It’s important to consult with Gynecologic Endoscopy
it is hoped that finding this a doctor before drastically
They found it enhanced the effects perfect balance means that, changing your diet or taking new (ISGE)-European Society of 25 - 26 Feb 2019 Cape Town, Western Cape
of chemotherapy, slowing the growth in the future, mannose could supplements.” Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
of tumours and reducing their size. It be given to cancer patients to (ESGE)
also increased the lifespan of some enhance chemotherapy without Prof Ryan said his team would next
mice. damaging their overall health,” seek to investigate why mannose
he said. worked in some cancer cells and
In further tests, cells from other not others, so they could work out
types of cancer, including Supplement warning which patients might benefit the Rivers and Rails of Africa:
leukaemia, osteosarcoma (bone most. Challenges in medicine and 26 Apr - 08 May Cape Town, Western Cape
cancer), ovarian and bowel cancer One advantage of mannose is that dentistry 2019 2019
were exposed to mannose in the it is cheaper than drugs produced
laboratory. by pharmaceutical companies.
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