MIT discovers amino acid that helps the gut heal itself

A study from MIT indicates that cysteine, an amino acid, can activate immune signaling processes that encourage stem cells to regenerate intestinal tissue, potentially aiding recovery from radiation damage common in cancer treatments. The research was conducted on mice and suggests that a diet rich in cysteine could help the small intestine heal faster after injury. Omer Yilmaz, director of MIT's Stem Cell Initiative and an associate professor of biology at MIT, led the study published in Nature. This is the first time a single nutrient has been identified to directly enhance gut regenerative capacity. The findings suggest that cysteine-rich diets or supplements might offer new ways to mitigate chemotherapy or radiation-induced injury if similar effects are observed in humans.

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