Next warrior against cancer?

Gary Sliworsky
Ag. Rep.

One of the next great warriors against cancer may already be found in the refrigerator or on the backyard grill.
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a “good fat” found naturally in dairy and beef products. Though relatively unknown a decade ago, pioneering studies based largely on animal models have shown considerable CLA promise for human health benefits related to a range of major diseases and conditions, with the greatest progress thus far related to cancer.
Dr. Catherine Field is a leading researcher on the effect of nutrition on the immune system and Professor of Human Nutrition at the University of Alberta. She is one of many researchers aiming to identify and take advantage of CLA opportunities, as part of the CLA Network. Founded in Alberta in 2001, the CLA Network is a collaborative team from academia, industry and government, including representatives from many areas of expertise such as research, food industry, health and communications.
In a series of cell culture studies, CLA Network researchers have confirmed specific types of CLA can reduce the proliferation of cancerous cells.
“It was initially believed CLA would act in the same way as omega three fatty acids, derived from fish oil, which have shown significant anti-cancer promise,” says Field. “However, the results of our studies and others point toward CLA as having quite different mechanisms and having efficacy at lower amounts in the diet.”
The growing promise of CLA is something researchers would like to investigate further in animal trials before moving to human clinical trials. Among other key findings, early research indicates the major CLA isomers (types) known as CLA 9,11 and CLA 10,12 appear to act differently in relation to various forms of cancer. “This opens the door to fighting cancer with CLA through more than one pathway, or finding a nutrient that could target a specific form of cancer,” says Field.
Another landmark finding is CLA appears to affect both the growth and death of cancer. This is of great significance to cancers such as breast cancer, which are characterized by mutated genes that stop cell death.
“Indications are CLA may act in the manner of some chemotherapy drugs by ‘turning back on’ the death process of cancer cells,” says Field.
Pioneering CLA studies have also shown substantial health potential related to heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, bone density and obesity.
Further information on the human health potential of natural dairy and beef CLA, including further perspective from Field and colleagues, is featured in a new article available on the Web, at www.CLAnetwork.com. Background information on the CLA Network and a range of other articles on CLA progress – with new items added regularly – are also available on the site.
Dates to Remember
·Sept. 9 - R.R. Cattlemens’ Association Yearling Sale, Stratton