British scientists have developed a new tool to predict the effects of different diets on cancer cells and healthy cells. The latest research helps to reveal subtle metabolic changes related to different nutrients and improve people's understanding of the relationship between diet and disease. The relevant research was published in the latest issue of "i science". Metabolism refers to a series of processes that enable organisms to use nutrients in the environment to play a role. The relative content of sugar, fat and protein in the diet determines how much "fuel" cells can obtain and how these cells process nutrients. In the latest research, scientists at King's College London first created a complete map of all metabolic pathways in mice, and then scientists at Francis Crick Institute collected experimental data to measure gene expression levels in mouse liver and liver tumors to improve the model. The study found specific metabolic changes related to unhealthy diet, which are believed to promote the production of glycerol and succinic acid in cancer tissues and healthy tissues. They also observed that when eating unhealthy diet, the metabolic difference between healthy cells and cancer cells is the highest, which indicates that tumors can better use unhealthy diet to promote survival and growth. The research team also simulated the effects of various combinations of dietary components, and found that although there are some cancer-specific metabolic functions in healthy diet, they can also reverse many metabolic functions in the case of limited fat and carbohydrate. Researchers said that the potential application of this work is very far-reaching. Bad diet will seriously destroy the metabolism of human body, lead to obesity, cause liver disease, and then develop into cancer. The latest research is expected to be used to guide dietary changes and supplement therapies for different diseases. But its most effective use is to help people choose which foods to eat, so as to prevent more diseases. (Outlook New Era)