Great breakthrough for potential cancer treatments, absolutely nothing the average person needs to worry about from a dietary perspective as the slightly click baity title implies by specifically mentioning “every healthy food you eat”. Wasn’t necessary to connect those two. The breakthrough is that they found a way to disrupt the protection in tumors with roseoflavin.
So again, do not avoid vitamin B2/riboflavin it in NO way causes cancer lol. It’s still healthy ;)
> The instinctive reaction to this research might be to wonder whether cancer patients should avoid foods high in Vitamin B2, such as dairy, eggs, meat, and green vegetables. The researchers are careful to head off that conclusion, and for good reason.
>Vitamin B2 is essential to human health across dozens of biological processes. It is involved in energy metabolism, the maintenance of healthy skin and blood cells, the function of mucous membranes, and the activity of other vitamins, including B6 and folate. A deficiency of riboflavin causes a condition called ariboflavinosis, characterized by mouth sores, skin inflammation, and eye problems. The idea of restricting dietary Vitamin B2 in cancer patients who are already nutritionally vulnerable is not supported by this research and could cause significant harm.
> What the research actually points toward is a much more targeted intervention: not reducing systemic Vitamin B2 levels across the entire body, but finding ways to block riboflavin metabolism specifically within tumor cells. This is precisely why roseoflavin is interesting; it can interfere with riboflavin function in a potentially targeted way, and it occurs naturally, which gives researchers a starting point for developing derivatives that are more potent or more selective.
That is a completely valid point and worth clarifying. The article does note that B2 is not something to avoid, the research is specifically about how cancer cells exploit riboflavin to resist ferroptosis, which opens a treatment pathway rather than suggesting any dietary change. The headline is admittedly provocative but the article makes the distinction. Appreciate you adding that context for anyone who just read the title.
Yup it’s a really cool breakthrough, just the headline needlessly plants the idea that maybe vitamin B2 containing food is actually bad for you. Of course they eventually clarify outright that’s not the case (I added the quote to my original comment), but they make you click to find out out the answer to the bait. That’s the click bait. I’m not mad, it’s basically the status quo these days, I just feel obligated to point it out whenever I see it lol. Especially in scientific contexts. Because a huge chunk of people form their opinions and understanding of reality off of headlines alone. Which is why click bait is so dangerous in some situations. This isn’t an especially egregious example of that or anything. As far as click bait goes it’s on the tamer side. But still, it’s there.
The corollary of 'guns kill cancer in a dish' is something like 'water helps cancer survive in a dish'. Just as getting shot won't cure your cancer, being dehydrated won't save you from getting cancer. Unless you die from it, in which case it no longer matters whether or not you have cancer.
I get that it’s good but also the whole theory of chemotherapy is to poison everything in your body and hope the cancer dies first so perhaps a spell of a restricted diet might become a form of similar treatment to starve it for a while.
Every month, there’s some research claiming that a certain vitamin promotes the growth of cancer cells. It has been known for decades that cancer cells gorge themselves on vitamin C; there have even been treatment protocols designed to cause them to burst under osmotic pressure.
I expect to see "research" one day claiming that dihydrogen monoxide causes cancer.
Maybe for a bit of context: this is basic biology, not clinical research. There is a lot of work needed to take this into the clinic (and as others have pointed out, there's no reason that these results suggest avoiding B2).
The idea of targeting vitamins in cancer therapy is not new. A common chemo drug, methotrexate, is sometimes prescribed in cancer because it blocks B9 in fast growing cells (it is also an immunosuppressant, so prescribed for that use in autoimmunity).
And thankfully there is frequently a helpful soul or two in the sub who actually reads the article and understands the science, and then TL:DRs it for everyone to confirm whether it’s worth freaking out about or not.
A1sauc3d | 5 hours ago
Great breakthrough for potential cancer treatments, absolutely nothing the average person needs to worry about from a dietary perspective as the slightly click baity title implies by specifically mentioning “every healthy food you eat”. Wasn’t necessary to connect those two. The breakthrough is that they found a way to disrupt the protection in tumors with roseoflavin.
So again, do not avoid vitamin B2/riboflavin it in NO way causes cancer lol. It’s still healthy ;)
> The instinctive reaction to this research might be to wonder whether cancer patients should avoid foods high in Vitamin B2, such as dairy, eggs, meat, and green vegetables. The researchers are careful to head off that conclusion, and for good reason.
>Vitamin B2 is essential to human health across dozens of biological processes. It is involved in energy metabolism, the maintenance of healthy skin and blood cells, the function of mucous membranes, and the activity of other vitamins, including B6 and folate. A deficiency of riboflavin causes a condition called ariboflavinosis, characterized by mouth sores, skin inflammation, and eye problems. The idea of restricting dietary Vitamin B2 in cancer patients who are already nutritionally vulnerable is not supported by this research and could cause significant harm.
> What the research actually points toward is a much more targeted intervention: not reducing systemic Vitamin B2 levels across the entire body, but finding ways to block riboflavin metabolism specifically within tumor cells. This is precisely why roseoflavin is interesting; it can interfere with riboflavin function in a potentially targeted way, and it occurs naturally, which gives researchers a starting point for developing derivatives that are more potent or more selective.
[OP] Direct_Dare_9699 | 4 hours ago
That is a completely valid point and worth clarifying. The article does note that B2 is not something to avoid, the research is specifically about how cancer cells exploit riboflavin to resist ferroptosis, which opens a treatment pathway rather than suggesting any dietary change. The headline is admittedly provocative but the article makes the distinction. Appreciate you adding that context for anyone who just read the title.
A1sauc3d | 4 hours ago
Yup it’s a really cool breakthrough, just the headline needlessly plants the idea that maybe vitamin B2 containing food is actually bad for you. Of course they eventually clarify outright that’s not the case (I added the quote to my original comment), but they make you click to find out out the answer to the bait. That’s the click bait. I’m not mad, it’s basically the status quo these days, I just feel obligated to point it out whenever I see it lol. Especially in scientific contexts. Because a huge chunk of people form their opinions and understanding of reality off of headlines alone. Which is why click bait is so dangerous in some situations. This isn’t an especially egregious example of that or anything. As far as click bait goes it’s on the tamer side. But still, it’s there.
EquipLordBritish | 4 hours ago
The corollary of 'guns kill cancer in a dish' is something like 'water helps cancer survive in a dish'. Just as getting shot won't cure your cancer, being dehydrated won't save you from getting cancer. Unless you die from it, in which case it no longer matters whether or not you have cancer.
wild_crazy_ideas | 4 hours ago
I get that it’s good but also the whole theory of chemotherapy is to poison everything in your body and hope the cancer dies first so perhaps a spell of a restricted diet might become a form of similar treatment to starve it for a while.
scaleofjudgment | 4 hours ago
Information wise this can be used to maybe develop treatment to block b2 in cancer cells.
Instant application of this is foolish as "cancer cells use water so stop drinking anything with water"
YonYonYonYonYon | 4 hours ago
Clickbait title, AI images. Draw your own conclusion.
Marelle01 | 4 hours ago
Every month, there’s some research claiming that a certain vitamin promotes the growth of cancer cells. It has been known for decades that cancer cells gorge themselves on vitamin C; there have even been treatment protocols designed to cause them to burst under osmotic pressure.
I expect to see "research" one day claiming that dihydrogen monoxide causes cancer.
epigenie_986 | 4 hours ago
This just in: vitamins good for cells!
simonbleu | 3 hours ago
Are you saying that healthy nutrients that keep cells alive, help keep cancer which is made of your cells, alive?
Gasp
costafilh0 | 3 hours ago
Tomorrow on TV:
McDonald's helps to kill cancer.
KokoTheTalkingApe | 3 hours ago
When will people learn? Eating will kill you!
hansn | 4 hours ago
Maybe for a bit of context: this is basic biology, not clinical research. There is a lot of work needed to take this into the clinic (and as others have pointed out, there's no reason that these results suggest avoiding B2).
The idea of targeting vitamins in cancer therapy is not new. A common chemo drug, methotrexate, is sometimes prescribed in cancer because it blocks B9 in fast growing cells (it is also an immunosuppressant, so prescribed for that use in autoimmunity).
ute-ensil | 4 hours ago
Omg next youre going to tell me cancer cells are almost like non cancer cells!
teod0036 | 3 hours ago
I would imagine most things that help keep normal cells alive also help keep cancer cells alive
SolidRecognition3357 | 3 hours ago
1 way or another...we all have an expiry date
Savings-Eggplant5912 | 4 hours ago
I just noticed this sub two god damn days ago and everything causes cancer is in every headline.
thelastgalstanding | 4 hours ago
And thankfully there is frequently a helpful soul or two in the sub who actually reads the article and understands the science, and then TL:DRs it for everyone to confirm whether it’s worth freaking out about or not.