Anti-cancer substance found in readily available Vietnamese market mushroom

(Dan Tri) - White button mushrooms not only provide a new direction in supporting cancer treatment, but also strengthen the belief in the "food as medicine" trend in modern medicine.

Scientists at City of Hope - a private, non-profit clinical research center, hospital and graduate school located in California (USA) have just announced a promising study on cancer treatment.

Research shows that white button mushroom supplements can slow the progression and even prevent the spread of prostate cancer.

This research result not only opens up new hope in cancer treatment, but also marks an important step forward in the trend of using food as a method to support disease treatment.

Anti-cancer mechanism of white button mushroom

According to research results, white button mushrooms help inhibit cancer growth through the mechanism of reducing a special group of cells called MDSCs (immunosuppressive cells derived from bone marrow).

This type of cell is known to be a major contributor to the growth and spread of cancer.

Cold season is also the season of mushrooms (Photo: Getty).

In mice tests, the use of white button mushroom extract significantly slowed tumor growth and prolonged the survival of the samples.

In addition, white button mushrooms also stimulate the immune system by increasing the activity of T cells - the type of cells responsible for destroying cancer - and reducing the number of MDSC cells in the body.

In a phase 2 clinical trial, scientists followed eight men with prostate cancer for three months after taking a supplement made from white button mushrooms.

Blood analysis showed that the number of MDSC cells decreased significantly, while anti-cancer cells such as T cells and natural killer cells increased. This proves that white button mushrooms not only slow down cancer progression but also help strengthen the body's natural defenses.

"Food as medicine" - a new direction in medicine

The study of white button mushrooms is part of the City of Hope's "food as medicine" program. This is a new medical trend that focuses on using natural foods with pharmacological effects to support the treatment of diseases.

In addition to white button mushrooms, scientists are also studying other foods with anti-cancer potential, such as grape seed extract, pomegranate, blueberries and jamun (a purple berry).

“We are demonstrating that plant-derived substances can effectively support the treatment and prevention of cancer, especially when combined with conventional treatments.

Hopefully, in the future, using food as part of a cancer treatment regimen will become an evidence-based medical standard," said Professor Shiuan Chen, who led the study.

Warning: Do not use dietary supplements without permission.

Although research on white button mushrooms is promising, experts warn patients not to arbitrarily use supplements of unknown origin.

"Currently, white button mushroom extract products are not approved by the FDA. Although initial research shows positive results, we still need more time to fully evaluate the safety and efficacy," emphasized Dr. Xiaoqiang Wang, co-author of the study.

Instead of buying supplements of unknown quality, consumers are encouraged to use fresh white button mushrooms in their daily diet. According to experts, adding white button mushrooms to meals is not only safe but also brings significant health benefits.

White button mushrooms not only provide a new direction in supporting cancer treatment, but also strengthen the belief in the "food as medicine" trend in modern medicine.

Researchers are now continuing to explore whether MDSC reduction is directly linked to improved clinical outcomes in prostate cancer patients.

If further trials are successful, white button mushroom supplements could become part of cancer treatment regimens, helping to improve quality of life and prolong life for patients.

According to https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-11-mushroom-supplement-prostate-cancer-worse.html

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/tim-thay-chat-chong-ung-thu-trong-loai-nam-cho-viet-san-co-20241208185345967.htm