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  | 2004-07-01 | Life Science |
Breast milk destroys warts, may fight cancer
| A research team in Lund has found that a compound in breast milk has been found to destroy skin warts, suggesting that it could help prevent more serious related conditions such as cervical cancer.The research is reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.
| Researcher Catharina Svanborg and colleagues at Lund University in Sweden found that when the breast milk compound is applied to skin, it kills the human papillomavirus (HPV) associated with skin warts.
The discovery could have relevance for the treatment of cervical cancer because the virus found in warts is similar to one thought to cause the disease, says Svanborg.
There are 130 known types of HPV, most of which are harmless.
Most types cause common skin warts, such as those found on the hands and soles of the feet.
About 30 types are spread through sexual contact. Some of these can cause cervical cancer.
Warts associated with HPV can be dissolved with chemicals, frozen, or removed with a laser or various creams.
The new compound, however, gets rid of warts that are resistant to standard treatment. It could also be effective for treating conditions that are more serious.
Researchers knew that breast milk contains a natural antibiotic, but its potential for treating viruses was discovered accidentally.
The wart-busting compound is called alpha-lactalbumin-oleic acid. It works by disrupting cells in warts, while leaving healthy cells unaffected.
The researchers found that when they applied the compound to people with warts resistant to current treatments, the warts shrank by more than 75% within three weeks.
Two years after the initial treatment, all warts had disappeared in 83% of people treated.
The researchers now plan to test the compound on women with cervical cancer. |
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