TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A study by researchers at the University of Missouri 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 show that taking nutritional supplements can increase the chances of breast cancer and brain metastases. Metastasis is when cancer cells spread through the body and cause multiple tumor growths beyond the original location.
Known for its suggested benefits for metabolism, brain health, and cardiovascular system, nicotinamide riboside, or NR for short, is sometimes referred to as an “anti-aging” vitamin. The National Institutes of Health reports that, according to previous research, NR can be used to “regulate the aging process and thereby exert life-prolonging 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.
Elena Goun, associate professor of chemistry at MU and one of the study’s authors, said that once the cancer reaches the brain, the results are fatal because there are no viable treatments.
“Some people bring [vitamins and supplements] We automatically assume that vitamins and supplements have only positive health effects, but we know very little about how they actually work. I was inspired to research basic questions about how it works.
The increased risk of metastatic brain tumors was revealed by Goun’s study investigating the effects of NR on cancer spread. Using bioluminescence-based probes, Goun and the other authors of his study were able to see how NR affects cancer growth.
Using bioluminescence technology, researchers can examine the presence of NR in light, noting that “the brighter the light, the more NR is present in certain types of cells, including cancer cells.” did.
“While NR is already in widespread use by people and is being investigated in numerous ongoing clinical trials for additional applications, much of how NR works is a black box and “That led us to conceive of 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.
A Food and Drug Administration spokesperson told Nexstar that dietary supplements such as nicotinamide riboside fall under a different set of regulations than those covering prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Now, the FDA must find that a product is counterfeited or misbranded in order to remove it from the market.
Adequate levels of niacin or vitamin B3 for most people are naturally consumed through a variety of foods, including beef, fish, poultry, nuts, legumes, grains, and rice. It recommends an average of 16 mg of niacin per day, with 14 mg recommended for women.
A serving of marinara sauce or a 3-ounce serving of chicken breast, for example, both contain 10.3 mg of B3, according to the NIH.
.
