Tampa, Fla. (WFLA) — A University of Missouri study found that taking a popular vitamin supplement may contribute to the risk of brain cancer.
A vitamin called nicotinamide riboside is a variant of B3. Studies have shown that taking nutritional supplements may increase the risk of brain tumors.
Known for its metabolic, brain health, and cardiovascular benefits, nicotinamide riboside is sometimes called an “anti-aging” vitamin. The National Institutes of Health reports that, according to previous research, NR can be used to “modulate the aging process and thereby exert life-extending effects,” but the full effect of doing so is The process is not yet clear.
But a new study by an international group of scientists and chemists found that high levels of NR can also lead to an increased risk of developing cancer.
“NR not only increases the risk of developing triple-negative breast cancer, but can also cause the cancer to metastasize and spread to the brain,” a University of Missouri statement on the findings of the study said.
Metastasis is when cancer cells spread through the body and cause multiple tumor growths beyond the original location.
Elena Goun, an associate professor of chemistry at MU and one of the study’s authors, said once the cancer reaches the brain, the results are fatal because there are no viable treatments.
“Some people bring [vitamins and supplements] Because we automatically assume that vitamins and supplements have only positive effects on health, we know very little about how they actually work.” I was prompted to research basic questions about how it works in
The increased risk of metastatic brain tumors was revealed by Goun’s study investigating the effects of NR on cancer spread through increased metabolism. Using a bioluminescence-based probe, Goun and her study author colleagues were able to see how NR affects cancer growth.
Using bioluminescence techniques, the researchers were able to probe the presence of NR with light, noting that “the brighter the light, the more NR is present.”
NR is already widely used by people and is being investigated in numerous ongoing clinical trials for additional applications, but much of how NR works is a black box and is not understood.” said Goun. “That prompted us to come up with this new imaging technique based on ultra-sensitive bioluminescence imaging that allows real-time quantification of NR levels in a non-invasive manner.”
According to Goun, the study results show the “importance of careful investigation” of side effects from supplements in people with various health conditions.
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