Can you imagine drinking a milkshake that could potentially kill cancer cells? Researchers at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry have been experimenting with nisin, a naturally occurring food preservative that grows on dairy products. This colorless, tasteless powder can usually be found added to many foods at a rate of 0.25 to 37.5 mg/kg. However, the research team led by Dr. Yvonne Kapila fed rats a “nisin milkshake” containing a powerful 800 mg/kg and discovered its potential in fighting cancer cells.
Nisin: An ancient solution
Nisin is a powerful weapon that nature has had in its arsenal for thousands of years. In lab tests, nisin killed 70-80% of cancerous head and neck tumor cells within nine weeks and fought off Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a type of bacteria responsible for numerous difficult-to-treat infections. Dr. Kapila stated that “to date, nobody has found bacteria from humans or living animals that is resistant to nisin.”
There are two reasons why nisin is lethal to bacteria. First, it binds to a static area of bacteria, allowing nisin to work before the bacteria mutate into antibiotic-resistant superbugs. Second, nisin kills biofilms – colonies of bacteria group together to form a fortress obstructing the path of antibiotics. While these results are promising, they remain limited and exclusive to mice, making it difficult to say if nisin will work similarly in humans.
Expanding the use of nisin
If proven to work in humans, Dr. Kapila’s group is looking at using nisin to treat infections of the skin, respiratory system, abdomen, and mouth, as well as 30 different types of cancer. This is particularly important as the American Cancer Society estimates that within the U.S., there will be 1,665,540 new cancer cases diagnosed and 585,720 cancer-related deaths this year alone. Many cancer treatments have not evolved beyond cutting, burning, radiating, and using harsh chemicals. Those who discover unconventional treatments usually face significant pushback or suppression.
Dr. William Kelly discovered a natural enzyme therapy, when combined with strict nutrition and detoxification, that “digested” pancreatic cancer cells, achieving nearly a 90% five-year survival rate for nearly 33,000 patients. Yet, the government threw Dr. Kelly in jail after hearing about his discovery. This prompted approximately 75 million Americans every year to search for alternative cancer treatments to survive the disease or avoid it altogether.
A potential game-changer
There is an urgent need for innovative cancer treatments like the “nisin milkshake.” Scientists and doctors are increasingly aware that the usual treatment methods of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation can be dangerous and unappealing for cancer patients. Nisin offers an opportunity to access natural cancer-fighting remedies without the adverse effects of conventional treatments. With more research needed to determine its effectiveness in humans, nisin demonstrates the importance of looking to nature and exploring new avenues of curative possibilities. Such groundbreaking treatments could potentially change the way we approach cancer and ultimately save countless lives.
