Cow’s milk components with anti-cancer potential

Abstract

Milk contains a number of components with anti-cancer potential. Associated with the fat phase is conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which is a potent inhibitor of mammary tumourigenesis and perhaps has a role in prostate cancer therapy. Sphingomyelin and other sphingolipids suppressed colon tumour development in mice. Butyric acid, uniquely present in milk, can inhibit mammary tumour occurrence in rats while 13-methyltetradecanoic acid suppressed cell growth in a number of human cancer cell lines and inhibited the growth of human prostate and liver cancer cells implanted in mice. Milk lipids also contain the common anti-cancer agents β-carotene and vitamin A. Milk protein, particularly whey protein and its components, have potent anb-tumour action in animal models of colon and mammary tumourigenesis. In this regard whey is superior to other proteins such as beef and soy. This benefit is considered to be due to the content of the sulphur amino acids cysteine and methionine, which are precursors of glutathione, a powerful cellular antioxidant. Glutathione is also responsible for maintaining an effective immune response. Recently a number of studies demonstrated that bovine lactoferrin could inhibit tumour development in the rodent colon, lung, oesophagus, bladder and tongue. In addition, lactoferrin can inhibit angiogenesis and prevent metastases. Milk is a rich source of calcium. A large number of animal studies and human epidemiological and intervention studies suggest calcium can help prevent colon adenoma and carcinoma. Les composants du lait ayant des proprietes anticancereuses sont presentes ici: L'acide linoleique conjugue, la sphingomyeline et les autres sphingolipides, l'acide butyrique, l'acide 13-methyltetradecanoique, les proteines du lait dont la caseine, les proteines du lactoserum dont la lactoferrine, le calcium. Les mecanismes et sites d'action sont presentes.