Researchers in Ireland have shown for the first time that a food supplement made from yeast can help the body build stronger immune cells capable of fighting cancer, according to a new study from Trinity College Dublin.
The research teams discovered that adding a yeast based supplement to the diet of obese lab mice for testing the results by noticing how their immune cells developed, so yeat based suppliments helps to produce more effective cancer fighting cells.
Carrying excess weight is known to weaken the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight tumors. According to the study, the yeast supplement helped reverse that effect. Researchers say this points to yeast based supplements as a potential natural way to support the immune system’s ability to fight cancer.
The study was led by Associate Professor Frederick J. Sheedy of Trinity’s School of Biochemistry & Immunology and Professor Helen Roche of UCD’s School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, who also directs the UCD Conway Institute.
The team set out to determine whether a widely available dietary supplement, yeast beta glucan could reprogram early stage immune cells in bone marrow to produce longer lasting stronger anti-tumor responses, said Dr. Anna Ledwith, a postdoctoral researcher in Roche’s lab and the study’s first author.
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Researchers then exposed that immune systems to colorectal, skin, and breast cancer cells. The study also examined whether the supplement could reverse immune dysfunction linked to obesity.
Obesity affects millions of people worldwide and can significantly disrupt immune function, raising the risk of both infections and cancer. Researchers note that immune problems linked to obesity often persist even after someone loses weight.
Cancer also remains one of the leading causes of death globally, and researchers say there’s an urgent need for safe, accessible tools to help restore immune function. Yeast beta glucan is already sold as a food supplement with a strong safety record, making it a practical option for further clinical research.
Sheedy said a simple dietary supplement could eventually help boost the immune system’s ability to fight cancer, working alongside existing treatments like chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and potentially improving vaccine responses and resistance to infections.
