While there is a debate throughout Europe on cultivated meat from the point of view of food safety, but, conversely also for its potential beneficial effects on the environmental impact in relation to the constant increase in the world population, and a few years after a document from the world organization of Health (WHO) which in 2015 warned consumers against excessive consumption of meat and sausages, as potentially carcinogenic to human health (the document estimated an 18% greater probability of contracting colorectal cancer)
it's coming now a study from the journal Nature which highlights the interesting role that can be played, for human health, by the vaccenic acid contained in red meat.
Trans-vaccenic acid has a chemical formula very similar to oleic acidor found in extra virgin olive oil. In fact, despite having the same length, vaccenic acid has a double bond between two atoms of atoms in slightly different positions.
esso it is formed in the rumen of ruminant herbivores (sheep, cattle, goats), by the bacteria that convert the fats present in the ration into trans vaccenic acid, which is then transferred into both milk and meat. Sheep's milk is the one that contains it in greater quantities than other ruminants. With the contribution of milk or meat products the human body converts this compound into rumenic acid, which has a positive action in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
The study conducted by US researchers verified that the availability of trans vaccenic acid has a stimulating effect on CD8+ T lymphocytes, also called cytotoxic, capable of destroying tumor cells.
In fact, T lymphocytes are capable of producing substances (cytokines) capable of stimulating the immune system. The mechanism of action has been illustrated with a final summary diagram
Trans-vaccenic acid is able to stimulate the GPR43 receptor found on the cell membrane of the lymphocyte; as a result of this action, a cascade mechanism is induced which raises the level of cAMP (Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate) in the cell cytoplasm; in turn it induces the production of CREB, a transcription factor capable of penetrating the nucleus, inducing the production of numerous substances capable of blocking the cellular proliferation of tumor cells.
The discovery of this mechanism however, it must not lead to unlimited consumption of meat products and, more generally, animal derivatives, since the indication of a weekly consumption of 200 g of red meat, preferably unprocessed, remains validto. It should however be emphasized that they are from prefer those meat and dairy derivatives coming from grazing animals, since vaccenic acid is produced by rumen bacteria from conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which is usually abundant in pasture essences.
Corn silage, which constitutes the most abundant component of the ration of calves in stable breeding, contains on average only 20% of CLA compared to the herbaceous essences of a mountain pasture
