A short break from eating can trigger the gut's natural tissue-repair mechanisms after radiation exposure. Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that a 24-hour fast stimulates the growth of beneficial gut bacteria that protect tissue from damage, infohub.kz reports.
The preclinical findings from the team led by Professor Helen Piwnica-Worms and Professor Kunal Rai were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. According to ScienceDaily, the discovery could underpin new ways to protect healthy organs during cancer treatment.
Radiation therapy for abdominal tumors, including colorectal cancer and pancreatic tumors, often damages the sensitive lining of the small intestine. This causes dangerous inflammation and limits the radiation dose that can safely be given.
Experiments showed that a 24-hour fast increases the population of Akkermansia muciniphila (AKK) bacteria. The microorganisms produce propionate, which triggers epigenetic modification of histone proteins and gives cells access to regeneration genes.
As a result, a reserve of cells with an active repair program forms in the gut in advance. If the tissue is then exposed to radiation, these cells divide rapidly and heal the damaged lining. The experiments confirmed the microbiome's key role: when the AKK bacteria were artificially removed, fasting's protective effect disappeared entirely.
According to the authors, strict fasting is not suitable for all cancer patients. But understanding the chain of reactions will make it possible to develop drugs based on the bacteria or their metabolites that provide tissue regeneration without the need to fast.