Scientists at Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin have found that a yeast-based dietary supplement may strengthen the immune system’s ability to fight cancer. In experiments with mice, yeast beta-glucan reprogrammed immune cells in the bone marrow, leading to stronger anti-tumor responses against colorectal, skin, and breast cancer cells. The researchers also found that the supplement could restore some of the immune dysfunction associated with obesity and reverse immune changes that remained even after the mice lost weight. Unlike previous approaches that required injections, the study showed that beta-glucan delivered through the diet was enough to trigger this form of “trained immunity.” The findings could open the door to future studies testing whether yeast beta-glucan can enhance cancer-fighting immunity in humans and potentially complement existing treatments such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy. However, the results have so far been demonstrated in mice, and clinical studies will be needed to determine whether the effects translate to people.
