Lipotropes, immunocompetence, and cancer
Newbene, P.M.; Nauss, K.M.; de Camargo, J.L.
Cancer Research 43(5 Suppl): 2426s-2434s
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0008-5472 PMID: 6187450 Document Number: 209132
Lipotropes (choline, methionine, folic acid and vitamin B-12) are required for normal metabolic function at the cellular and subcellular levels. Deficiencies of any or all of them to a point of influence on methyl group metabolism affect synthesis of cellular macromolecules and cell proliferation. Lipotrope deficiency results in diminished immunocompetence and increased susceptibility to some types of cancer in experimental animals. The challenge now is to identify the linkage between lipotropes, the immune system and cancer and to determine mechanisms which can be useful in cancer prevention.