One Supplement Ingredient May Help Immune System Fight Cancer, Study Finds
Summary
A new study from Rockefeller University shows that the amino acid arginine helps the immune system detect cancer and viral infections by enabling the production of a key protein called MHC-1. Low arginine levels, which occur in cancer, viral infections, and aging, reduce this protein and weaken the immune response, but arginine supplements improved illness outcomes in mouse studies.Key Facts
- Arginine is an amino acid found in protein-rich foods and supplements.
- Low arginine levels stop cells from making MHC-1 proteins that help immune cells recognize threats.
- Cancers and some viruses lower arginine levels in the body.
- MHC-1 proteins show abnormal proteins to immune T cells to trigger an immune response.
- Supplementing arginine helped reduce severity of flu and COVID-19 in mice, even when given after infection.
- Diets high in arginine led to fewer colon tumors and milder viral infections in mice.
- Arginine naturally decreases with age, which may partly explain increased cancer and infection risks in older adults.
- More studies and clinical trials are needed to confirm if arginine supplements can help humans fight infections and cancer.
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