Chronic Dietary Administration of 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose Does Not Compromise Neurobehavioral Functions at Tumor Preventive Doses in Mice

Beneficial effects of dietary energy restriction (DER), including extension of life-span, reduction in cancer risk, anti-cancer effects and decrease in age related neurodegenerative diseases have been well established. Given that DER is difficult to implement in humans due to practical constraints, development of energy restriction mimetics (ERMs) is considered as a suitable alternative. Our recent studies have established the anti-tumor effects of the dietary administration of the glycolytic inhibitor 2-deoxy-D-glucose, a potential ERM, an alternative to DER; without any adverse effects on general physiology. Since functioning of the brain is critically dependent on glucose, we investigated the effects of chronic dietary 2-DG administration on the behavioural outcome in mice. Our findings based on a battery of neuro-behavioural tests clearly suggest that the chronic dietary administration of 2-DG that appreciably impairs the process of tumorigenesis has no adverse effect on the cognitive, affective and sensory-motor functions. Together with the maintenance of normal physiology reported by us earlier, these observations strengthen the potential of dietary 2-DG as a safe cancer preventive strategy.