“The Greatest Medicine of All Is To Teach People How Not To Need It.” OCTOBER 2001, Vol. 11, No. 10 Clinical Pearls News A Health Letter on Current Research in NUTRITION and INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE The Experts Speak Interviews Cancer and Whey Protein Gustavo Bounous, M.D. Research and Development Department Immunotec Research Ltd. 292 Adrien Patenaude ‘Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec Canada JTV SVS (450) 424-9992 / (450) 424-9993 FAX jmolson@immunotec.com “Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC) and Glutathione Modulation in Cancer Treatment” Anticancer Research, 2000;20:4785-4792, #36848 Kirk Hamilton: Could you please share with us your educational background and current position? Gustavo Bounous: | have a MD from the Medical School of Turin University, Italy. | spent 4 years as research fellow in the Department of Surgery of Indiana University Medieal Center. was Career Investigator of the Medical Research Council of Canada and Professor of Surgery at McGill University Montreal Canada. | am Director of Research and Development of Immunotec Research Ltd, KH: Whydid you hypothesize that whey protein could be of some benefit in cancer treatment? GB; The data on cancer came mostly through serendipity. KH: Canyoutell us alittle about your study and he basie results? GB: _ In studying the effect of dietary amino acids on the immune system, we accidentally found that mice fed whey protein concentrate (WPC) while exhibiting normal growth did produce more antibodies in response to T-cell dependent antigens, and exhibited greater resistance to pneumococcal infections. Optimization of the immune response is attributed to a greater production of glutathione (GSH) in the lymphocytes through dietary provision of supplementary doses of the énucial GSH precursor cysteine. The antioxidant property of GSH is ‘essential during the clonal expansion of the immune cells and antibody symthesis, Serendipity in the form ofthe availability of a good animal ‘model of human colon cancer was responsible for the cancer experiments. The favorable results on the initiation and progression of DMH colon cancer in mice was explained by: 1) the effect of GSH on carcinogenesis, 2) the anti-tumor effect on low volume of tumors via stimulation ofimmunity through the GSH pathway, 3 differential effect of a cysteine delivery system on the GSH synthesis in normal (increased) vs cancer cells (decreased), 4) the direct effect of cysteine ‘on the p53 dependent apoptosis in transformed cancer cells, and 5) the inhibitory effect of cysteine on neoangiogenesis and tumor progression Since the cancer study came mostly by serendipity the retrospective analysis involves multifactorial considerations. A preliminary series of case reports illustrates the benefit of WPC feeding on human urogenital malignancies, KH; What were the dose ranges of this whey protein concentrate? GB; Inhumans, the daily dose varied ffom 10 gto 30 g WPC. KH: How was this supplement taken throughout the day? GB: The supplement was taken usually in 2 of 3 doses a day diluted in a cold liquid ofthe patient's choice. KH: Isit special ype of whey protein or would any ype of whey protein sufice as a eysteine donor? GB: The ideal concentrate must contain an adequate level of cysteine rich proteins in an undenatured non-instantied form, It must also be protected from moisture and heat to prevent denaturation, The Brot we sedis trademarked Immunocal nthe US and HMS 90 in KH: | Did you evatuate glutathione levels and, ifso, in what tissue, and did the whey protein increase its level in that particular tissue? GB: __ In healthy humans, we found that the whey protein feeding increased the GSH of lymphocytes by 35.5%, In AIDS patients, we nated substan elevation oF Iymphosyte GSH froma very low value toward normal values, KH: Were there any sie effects 1 the whey protein concentrate? GB: Theproducris lctose- and fat-free. No significant side effect Was reported. KH: Did any sensitivities to milk protein eross react to whey proven? GB: Wehad no evidence ofthis. # Used by permission. Clinical Pearls News (CP News) 2001, Published by I.T. Services, 3301 Alta Arden #2, Sacramento, ‘CA 95825. Web site: vnww.clinicalpearis.com, COPYRIGHT@2001 U.S.A, KIRK HAMILTON PA-C