A diet containing a small amount of amino acid asparagine reduces the risk of developing aggressive breast cancer. The results of the study of an international group of scientists published in the journal Nature, reports EurekAlert!.

In the experiment, mice with the most dangerous type of tumor, which does not lend itself to hormonal therapy. In this type of cancer, malignant cells do not synthesize the receptors of estrogen and progesterone, as well as the membrane protein HER2, namely these compounds are some kind of targets for drugs.

Scientists have included in the ration of rodents rich in asparagine products, after which the growth of cancer cells accelerated.

When the animals were transplanted to a "bezasparagin" diet and given medicines to them, the condition of the mice improved. Further studies have shown that it is the presence of this enzyme in primary malignant cells that promotes the formation of metastases.

A large amount of asparagine is found in dairy products, beef, poultry, fish and seafood. Also, they are rich in potatoes, legumes, soybeans, asparagus, nuts and seeds. In vegetables and fruits, on the contrary, the amount of this amino acid is insignificant, which makes these products the most useful.