Chronic jet lag aggravated disease activity, intestinal pathology, inflammation, and tumor burden in an AOM/DSS colorectal cancer mouse model, and dietary PSB and 3'-HPSB supplementation initiated before CRC induction attenuated these changes and reduced macroscopic tumors (≥2 mm) by approximately 36% and 49%, respectively.
Chronic jet lag exacerbated colorectal cancer pathology in the AOM/DSS mouse model.
Dietary pterostilbene (PSB) and 3'-hydroxypterostilbene (3'-HPSB) attenuated pathological changes in jet lag-exposed CRC mice.
PSB and 3'-HPSB reduced the number of macroscopic tumors of at least 2 mm, with a larger reduction by 3'-HPSB.
The protective effects were accompanied by changes in circadian clock-related and Wnt/β-catenin signaling-related proteins.
PSB and 3'-HPSB supplementation reduced intestinal epithelial proliferation.
Supplementation was associated with changes in gut microbiota composition and fecal short-chain fatty acid levels.
This study in mice asked whether disrupting the body clock, as happens with chronic jet lag, makes colon cancer worse, and whether two natural compounds related to resveratrol, pterostilbene (PSB) and 3'-hydroxypterostilbene (3'-HPSB), could offer protection. Mice were given chemicals to induce colon cancer and were also exposed to chronic jet lag. Jet lag worsened disease symptoms, gut damage, inflammation and tumor burden. When mice were fed PSB or 3'-HPSB before cancer induction, these harmful changes were reduced. Tumors of at least 2 mm were reduced by about 36% with PSB and about 49% with 3'-HPSB. The supplements were also linked to changes in proteins involved in the body clock and in the Wnt/β-catenin growth pathway, to less proliferation of gut lining cells, and to shifts in gut bacteria and fecal short-chain fatty acids. This research suggests that these compounds may help protect against colon cancer progression under circadian disruption in mice. However, the findings are from an animal model, and the molecular and microbial changes are associations that need further mechanistic study. The results do not show whether the same effects would occur in people.
Koh Y, Chen Y, Ho P, Lin W, Hsu K, Majeed A, et al.. (2026). Pterostilbene and 3'-Hydroxypterostilbene Alleviate AOM/DSS-Induced and Chronic Jet Lag-Exacerbated Colon Cancer.. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.6c09704