A multi-mineral natural product inhibits liver tumor formation in C57BL/6 mice.
C57BL/6 mice were maintained for up to 18 months on high-fat and low-fat diets with or without a multi-mineral supplement derived from the skeletal remains of the red marine algae Lithothamnion calcareum. Numerous grossly observable liver masses were visible in animals on the "western-style" high-fat diet sacrificed at 12 and 18 months. The majority of the masses were in male mice (20 out of 100 males versus 3 out of 100 females; p = 0.0002). There were more liver masses in animals on the high-fat diet than on the low-fat diet (15 out of 50 on high-fat versus 5 out of 50 on low-fat; p = 0.0254). The multi-mineral supplement reduced the number of liver masses in mice on both diets (3 out of 25 male mice in the low-fat diet group without the supplement versus 1 out of 25 mice with supplement; 12 of 25 male mice in the high-fat diet group without the supplement versus 3 of 25 mice with supplement [p = 0.0129]). Histological evaluation revealed a total of 17 neoplastic lesions (9 adenomas and 8 hepatocellular carcinomas), and 18 pre-neoplastic lesions. Out of eight hepatocellular carcinomas, seven were found in unsupplemented diet groups. Steatosis was widely observed in livers with and without grossly observable masses, but the multi-mineral supplement had no effect on the incidence of steatosis or its severity. Taken together, these findings suggest that a multi-mineral-rich natural product can protect mice against neoplastic and pre-neoplastic proliferative liver lesions that may develop in the face of steatosis.
The Department of Pathology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. mnaslam@umich.edu
Muhammad N
MN
Aslam
Ingrid
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Bergin
Madhav
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Naik
Anna
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Hampton
Ron
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Allen
Steven L
SL
Kunkel
Howard
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Rush
James
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Varani
D000236:Adenoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D001688:Biological Products / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008903:Minerals / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000461:Rhodophyta / Q000737:chemistry*; D012737:Sex Factors
D001688:Biological Products; D016207:Cytokines; D008903:Minerals; D002118:Calcium