By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-18 14:52:16 | Updated at 2026-08-18 15:04:09
42 minutes ago
Food additives used to boost flavor in apple juice, yogurts and red wine could hold the secret to treating lymphedema – severe swelling in the arms and legs.
Research published in the journal Nature found that the compounds, called cyclodextrins, may be able to reverse the swelling.
The findings, based on animal studies, could potentially improve the lives of up to 10 million people in the US who live with the condition, many as a result of treatment for cancer.
For example, about one in five people will develop lymphedema in their arm following breast cancer treatment, such as surgery to remove lymph nodes or radiotherapy to clear cancer cells.
Lymph nodes are bean-shaped structures located all around the body that filter waste from lymph fluid, which is formed of liquid and waste produced by tissues.
The nodes clean the fluid carried in the lymphatic vessels before it joins the bloodstream.
But the nodes are also often the first place cancer cells migrate to when they develop in nearby tissues such as those in the breast, head or neck, before traveling on to other vital organs such as the lungs.
Surgically removing the nodes – to reduce the risk of cancer spreading – or treating them with radiotherapy can damage and cause blockages in the lymph system, leading to a chronic build-up of lymph fluid, causing swelling – sometimes so severe it can make simple tasks such as getting dressed or finding clothes to fit extremely difficult.
The new study's findings, based on animal studies, could potentially improve the lives of up to 10 million people in the US who live with lymphedema
Research suggests the impact on quality of life can be considerable. Treatment options are limited. Patients are initially told to try compression sleeves or stockings on their swollen limbs.
But these must be worn daily and can cause skin irritation and itching, which may be uncomfortable and also restrict movement.
Another option is a type of massage, manual lymphatic drainage, which patients can do themselves. This needs to be done regularly to have good results.
Surgery to 'replumb' lymphatic vessels so fluid does not build up is available, but studies suggest it can cost anywhere from $15,000 to $42,000 and still require ongoing treatment.
Likewise, liposuction – where excess fluid and fat is broken up using lasers or high-frequency sound waves, before being sucked out by a machine – may be prohibitively expensive for many people.
A recent study, by scientists at the National University of Singapore, suggests there is a cheaper and more practical solution.
The researchers focused on cyclodextrin, which forms from starch. For years it's been used throughout the food and drink industries to improve the smell and taste of numerous products.
This is because it has a unique cellular structure that means it can ‘trap’ unwanted odors in foods and drinks that might sour the overall flavor and experience.
Professor Kefah Mokbel, a consultant breast surgeon at the London Breast Institute, said the findings open a 'new therapeutic avenue'
Crucially, cyclodextrin is also widely used to remove cholesterol from dairy products such as cheese and butter to produce low-fat versions. It does this by encapsulating cholesterol crystals inside its hollow interior and then attracting water to flush them away.
This is significant because when the Singapore team analyzed skin tissue from women with lymphedema who were having treatment for breast cancer, they found that reduced lymphatic flow was associated with large amounts of cholesterol accumulating in surrounding tissue.
Lymphatic vessels transport cholesterol from the tissues back to the bloodstream. But this study showed a build-up of cholesterol in the surrounding tissues plays an active part in causing lymphedema. This cholesterol was found to be causing inflammation and scarring to the vessels which also blocked the normal flow of lymph.
The next step was to see if cyclodextrin’s cholesterol-lowering powers could alleviate this swelling.
The researchers treated mice that had lymphedema by injecting cyclodextrin into the affected area regularly over eight weeks.
The results showed it significantly reduced the swelling and inflammation – but as a bonus, researchers also found that cyclodextrin appeared to help regenerate the damaged lymphatic vessels, leading to a gradual reversal of the symptoms.
Babak Mehrara, chief of the plastic and reconstructive surgery service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, who wrote a review of the recent study for Nature, said: ‘(Lymphedema) is a fluid retention problem but fluid accumulation causes inflammation, which inhibits the function of existing lymphatics.
‘That leads to more fluid accumulation and more inflammation. Fat deposits and cholesterol build-up then occurs as a result of the inflammatory changes.’
Professor Kefah Mokbel, a consultant breast surgeon at the London Breast Institute, said the findings open a ‘genuinely new therapeutic avenue’.
He added: ‘This is potentially groundbreaking because lymphedema remains a chronic condition with no cure.
‘The study identifies excessive cholesterol deposition in affected tissues as a potential target for treatments. But we need carefully designed human trials to establish safety and efficacy.’
He added that cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins would be unlikely to work as they target cholesterol in the bloodstream, rather than specifically in the lymph nodes.
