A new study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has uncovered that the sulfur-containing amino acid cysteine, naturally present in foods like meat, cheese, nuts, and beans, may aid in repairing gut damage caused by cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. The research, conducted on mice, revealed that cysteine promotes the regeneration of intestinal cells, potentially improving recovery for cancer patients. The findings suggest that boosting cysteine intake through diet or supplements could support gut healing, though further human studies are needed to confirm these results.
Senior study author Omer Yilmaz, director of the MIT Stem Cell Initiative, emphasized that the study explores the use of a natural dietary compound rather than synthetic molecules, a promising approach for addressing treatment-induced gut damage. He explained,