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Many foods, especially fruits and vegetables, contain substances that help prevent the formation of cancers, or actively attack existing cancers. This seems to be one of the purposes of food, and is a part of the economy of nature. On the other hand, diets high in trans fat and sugar have been linked to a higher risk of colorectal cancer and other health problems. In the move from animal to vegetable fats, food manufacturers have found it necessary to hydrogenate vegetable oils in order to prevent them from going rancid. However, this process also results in the formation of trans fats, which are therefore present in most processed and fast food. Sugar is added to many foods to stimulate the taste buds, and make us want to eat more of that food. For cancer prevention, a diet containing high quality fruits and vegetables, and low in processed and junk foods is essential. Ideally, fruit and vegetables should not only be free of herbicides, fungicides and pesticides etc., but should also be grown on soil that has not been depleted of natural minerals and nutrients. A number of experts have pointed out that for cancer treatment rather than prevention, it may be too late for a dietary regime alone to result in a cure. Concentrated extracts should also be considered. However, to maintain or regain health, the importance of a wholefood diet cannot be over-emphasized. Woodlands Healing Research Center A good overview of nutrition and cancer. Cornell University Scientific research papers concerning the influence of fruit and vegetables on cancer risk, etc. American Institute for Cancer Research The cancer charity that fosters research on diet and cancer prevention, and educates the public about the results. Phytochemicals as Nutriceuticals An excellent survey of the many beneficial substances found in plants. Nutrition Journal – Nutrition and Cancer: A Review of the Evidence for an Anti-cancer Diet. An excellent review. The Oncologist – Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Cancer. A good review of the options. Cancer Active – Ten foods you should add back into your diet today. Cancer Active – Twelve foods you should have in your diet to fight cancer. Life Extension Foundation – An excellent review of many anti-cancer foods and supplements. Journal of the National Cancer Institute – Dietary Glycemic Load and Risk of Colorectal Cancer in the Women's Health Study. HealthCastle – An informative article on trans fats, and how they get into our diet. American Heart Association – A trans fat overview.
Many well-known vitamins and other antioxidants have been shown to help lessen the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Some also possess anti-cancer properties. However, some antioxidants can inhibit the cytotoxic effect (and hence their ability to kill cancer cells) of chemotherapy drugs, while others can enhance their cytotoxic effect (such as vitamin E and 5FU). The subject is complex because there are so many antioxidants and so many chemotherapy drugs, and the full nature of all the interactions is unknown. So if you are intending to take vitamins and antioxidants along with chemotherapy, it is best to do further research and/or ask a medical professional who knows about these things. Dietary supplements are a huge industry, and quality varies considerably, so it is important to get high quality vitamins and antioxidants. Vitamins etc. that have been extracted or prepared in such a way as to maximize their bioavailability are preferable because the body is able to absorb greater quantities. There is little point in taking large doses of vitamins if most of them are never absorbed into the body or if they are are simply excreted in your urine. Answers.com What are antioxidants? Moss Reports Dr Ralph Moss has studied this subject in detail, and has many useful things to say on the use of antioxidants during chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Try searching his site for antioxidants. He has also written a well-considered report, Should patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy take antioxidants? (It's not free!) The Simone Report – Nutrients and Cancer Treatment.Has some useful information on chemotherapy and antioxidants. Gary Null et. al. Vitamin C & the Treatment of Cancer. A review of the research literature. Arnold Gore A detailed study of antioxidants, cancer, chemotherapy and radiation. PubMed Dietary antioxidants during cancer chemotherapy: impact on chemotherapeutic effectiveness and development of side effects. A scientific and technical review of some of the known or suspected interactions. National Cancer Institute A factsheet on a vitamin E and selenium cancer prevention trial. AnnieAppleSeedProject A review of some of the studies concerning the beneficial combination of antioxidants. See also. Doctors Guide A report on the enhancing effect of Vitamin E on the colorectal cancer drug, 5FU. Higher Nature UK supplier of high quality nutritional supplements, with an advice line. Check out their True Food range of supplements with enhanced bioavailability.
VItamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, was first suggested as a cancer treatment in 1976, by Linus Pauling, winner of the Nobel prize for chemistry in 1954 and the Nobel peace prize in 1964. His research showed that life expectancy in terminally ill cancer patients who were given 10gms of vitamin C per day was significantly increased, compared to those who were not. Various studies since then have produced similar results, with survival times being generally doubled. Other studies, however, have found no benefits, and have concluded that any positive benefits are those of a placebo. In practice, doctors who have used the method have found that it works with some patients and not with others. Why this should be so is presently unknown. It has been suggested that the high dose acts as an immuno-booster, stimulating the body's defences to attack the cancer. This may be so, but in vitro studies published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2005) have also indicated that high dosage vitamin C results in the formation of hydrogen peroxide, which kills cancer cells. Normal cells remain unaffected by vitamin C at any concentration. Phase I clinical trials are presently underway to test the efficacy of the treatment. Proponents of the method have pointed out that studies showing no benefit from the treatment used oral rather than intravenous administration. The suggested dose of vitamin C as a cancer treatment is 32gms or more per day. Because doses higher than 3-6 gms per day can cause irritation to the gastrointestinal tract, it has to be administered as an intravenous infusion in a saline medium. This, of course, can only be done by a competent doctor. Side effects are generally minimal, with some dizziness during administration. It cannot be used in cases where there is fluid on the lungs, heart or peritoneum. Physorg News report of scientific studies. Vitamin C: Possible cancer-killing promise. BBC News Report Vitamin C helps to fight cancer. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Pharmacologic ascorbic acid concentrations selectively kill cancer cells: Action as a pro-drug to deliver hydrogen peroxide to tissues, (September 20, 2005). Annals of Internal Medicine Vitamin C pharmacokinetics: implications for oral and intravenous use, (April 6, 2004) Linus Pauling Institute Is Vitamin C Harmful to Cancer Patients? (2000) Linus Pauling Institute A useful overview of the biological functions of vitamin C. Dove Clinic A good article from UK cancer specialist, Dr Julian Kenyon.
An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that vitamin D is involved in the body's natural protection against cancer. It is found in a number of food substances, and is produced naturally in the skin in response to sunlight. Since the amount of sunlight in winter time in northern and southern latitudes, together with an indoor lifestyle, produces insufficient vitamin D for the body's requirements, the consumption of vitamin D in foods or supplements is essential. Note, however that high doses of vitamin D are toxic, causing a build up of blood calcium, which can lead to death. The latest recommended daily dose is 1000 IU (international units). Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institute of Health An excellent overview of vitamin D. Nutrition Science News Vitamin D as a defence against cancer. BUPA Health News Vitamin D, sunlight and cancer. Food Consumer Vitamin D may lower cancer risk. A new report of the findings published in the February 2006 issue of The American Journal of Public Health. American Journal of Public Health Publisher of the latest vitamin D and cancer report. At the time of writing, the February 2006 edition is not yet online, but this is where you can will find it.
Among the many vitamins shown to exhibit anti-cancer properties is vitamin B17, also called amygdalin, and found in a number of fruits and vegetables (including wheatgrass), but especially fruit pips and kernels such as apple pips and apricot kernels (the richest source). However, caution is required, since one of the metabolites of B17 is cyanide, although it is claimed that B17 is metabolized safely. Laetrile is the trade name for the synthesized compound, laevo-mandelonitrile-beta-glucuronoside, patented in the US, which is a close relative of B17. In popular practice, the names laetrile and amygdalin get used interchangeably. The scientific evidence concerning the positive anti-cancer benefits of B17 is mixed. Some claim it to be the universal preventative and remedy against cancer, and the subject of a massive cover-up. Others describe the claims as fraudulent. In practice, doctors using the treatment have found that like practically all cancer treatments, conventional or otherwise it has benefits for some patients, but not for others. Intravenous infusion is also more effective than oral administration. Cancer Cure Foundation Laetrile and information on vitamin B17. Why We are Losing the War on Cancer Dr Ralph Moss' interesting story of his struggle with the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York regarding laetrile. WorldWithoutCancer.org The story of vitamin B17. A UK information site, offering a useful downloadable guide to B17. Offshore Pharmacy A good review of the positive side of the case for laetrile or B17. The Cancer Cure Foundation A balanced view of the controversy. National Cancer Institute A brief overview. Whale A networking page with many links to sites concerning laetrile. Check out, especially, the Dr Manners interview. NineMSN News & Current Affairs Vitamin B17: Cancer Cure or Con? A news report examining the controversy. 1Cure4Cancer A site that emotively presents the evidence in the form of hyped-up claims and conspiracy theories. Links to sales sites for vitamin B17. Apricot Powder – A US vendor of apricot kernels and amygdalin. Bayho – A US vendor of apricot kernels. Quackwatch A detailed debunking of the claims surrounding B17 by dedicated debunkers, together with the history of the treatment.
Folate and folic acid are B vitamins, referred to specifically as vitamin B9. Although the names are often used interchangeably, folate is the form actually found naturally in many foods, including dark leafy greens such as spinach, beetroot and mustard greens, asparagus, avocado, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, turnip and other root vegetables, peas, chick peas, lentils, kidney beans, white beans, lima beans, mung beans, soya beans, oranges, brewer's yeast, whole grains, wheat germ, bulgur wheat, orange juice, and milk. Some of these – such as spinach and broccoli, are better sources than others. Folic acid is the form used as a dietary supplement, and is rarely found in foods or the human body. The body is able to absorb folic acid about twice as easily as folate. Largely because folate deficiency around the time of conception can result in birth defects, all grain products in the USA since 1998, such as pastas, breads, and cereals, have been fortified with folic acid. Similar statutory requirements are also in place in a number of European countries. The recommended daily adult requirement of folate is at least 400 micrograms, a quantity now obtained by many people in the US and Europe (though not the UK), through the addition of folic acid to grain products. Because folate is involved in the synthesis of RNA, and the repair and functioning of DNA, its deficiency can result in DNA damage that can lead to cancer. Several studies have associated low levels of folate in the blood with an increased risk of cancer. Other studies have reported that diets low in folate are associated with an increased risk of breast, colon, and pancreatic cancer, while diets high in folate are linked with a decreased risk of breast and colorectal cancer. Research has also shown that the risk is further reduced when folic acid is taken along with other nutrients, such as methionine, and vitamins B6 and B12, which help the body utilize folate. On the other hand, alcohol interferes with the absorption and metabolism of folate, and studies have shown that alcohol consumption, even as little as one drink a day, significantly increases the risk of both colon and breast cancer. That studies have been conducted on particular forms of cancer does not mean that other forms of cancer are unaffected by the concentration of dietary folate. It is simply the best way to obtain meaningful data from such trials. Epidemiological studies linking diet to cancer risk do not prove a direct cause, and the conservative view is that megadoses of folic acid supplements are inadvisable as a means of reducing cancer risk. On the other hand, studies have shown that those with a family history of colon cancer reduce their risk of getting the disease by long-term use of multivitamin tablets containing folic acid. Folate is also destroyed by overcooking, and being water soluble, is leached into the water when boiling vegetables. Steaming your vegetables is a better option. Because folate is required for rapid cell division, including cancer cells, some cancer drugs, such as methotrexate, are designed to interfere with folate metabolism. It is important, therefore, for anyone taking methotrexate to seek their oncologist's advice concerning the use of folic acid supplements. Because folate is better utilized by the body when in conjunction with vitamins B6 and B12, it is advisable for those taking a folic acid supplement to combine it with a B-complex supplement. Also, it seems inadvisable for patients with cancer to take high doses of folic acid, since this will only supply the tumour with more of the folate it requires for proliferation. Folate's integral part in cellular metabolism underlies studies showing that folate deficiency is also related to miscarriage, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, depression, cancer, cervical dysplasia, inflammatory bowel disease, burns, and male infertility. All Refer Health – A brief overview. The Doctor Will See You Now – A useful overview with a historical perspective. Office of Dietary Supplements – A full overview in layman's language, including a table of foods containing folate. University of Maryland Medical Center – Another excellent in-depth overview, including details of its protection against various ailments. Wikipedia – An overview from this online encyclopaedia. Linus Pauling Institute – An in-depth overview for the more scientifically minded. American Cancer Society – A useful overview, and a report concerning the role of folate in reducing the risk of breast cancer. American Cancer Society – “Folate Reduces Risk of Colon Cancer For People with Family History. Vegetarian Nutrition – “Folate and Colorectal Cancer: Is There a Connection? A review of some of the studies, up to the late 1990s.
IP-6 is a combination of the carbohydrate, inositol, with six phosphate molecules. Present in almost all mammalian cells, it is an antioxidant and a member of the vitamin B6 family. Found especially in sesame seeds, beans and cereals (especially corn, oats and rice), IP-6 is thought to regulate cell function, including proliferation and differentiation. Back in the mid-1980s, pathology professor, Dr A. M. Shamsuddin, and his colleagues at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, found that IP-6 slowed or stopped the growth of human liver cancer cells in a cell culture, and shrank existing tumours in mice. According to Dr Shamsuddin, IP-6 inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells, often causing them to revert to normality. Other animal studies, largely with colon, lung and breast cancers, have confirmed the cancer-inhibiting properties of IP-6. Clinical trials on human beings have yet to be conducted, although in cell culture studies IP-6 has been shown to inhibit the growth of human prostate cancer cells and adenocarcinoma. Since publication of the original research, IP-6 has moved in and out of medical favour. Because IP-6 also binds to important minerals such as calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc (a process known as chelation) in the stomach, preventing their bodily utilization, the conservative view is that its use as a supplement must be considered experimental, and it should be taken under appropriate medical supervision. A high fibre diet is said to provide a sufficient supply of IP-6. On the other hand, since iron is used by cancer cells as a primary growth factor, a substance that actively chelates iron from cancer cells is of positive benefit. IP-6 does not remove iron from red blood cells because the iron is tightly bound into the haemoglobin molecule. Dr Shamsuddin, author of IP-6: Nature's Revolutionary Cancer Fighter (1998), says that studies have shown the excessive chelation worries to be unfounded. He also maintains that IP-6 holds promise for the prevention and treatment of high cholesterol and lipid levels, kidney stones and maybe even as an immune booster. He also observes that studies show that simply eating large quantities of fibre is a less effective weapon against cancer than eating foods that are especially high in IP-6. Taking IP-6 as a supplement is still more effective. As a nutritional supplement, IP-6 works best when combined with inositol, because the two together form IP-3, which is actually the compound responsible for much of the anti-cancerous effects of IP-6. Despite concerns over the excessive chelation of essential minerals, no toxic side effects have been reported. However, IP-6 can cause flatulence and gastrointestinal discomfort. American Cancer Society – A brief overview from the conservative viewpoint. Cancer Backup – Another brief overview from the conservative viewpoint. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center – An overview, with references and links to scientific studies, from a moderate viewpoint. Vegetarian Made Easy – An article in favour of IP-6 from the vegetarian camp. Bill Sardi – IP-6 as a natural iron chelator, and anti-cancer agent. Young Again – Frequently asked questions concerning IP-6 with inositol, from an IP-6 vendor. Wolfe Clinic – “IP-6: The Revolutionary Cancer Fighter. An article in favour of IP-6 from an IP-6 vendor. Journal of Nutrition – “Cancer Inhibition by Inositol Hexaphosphate (IP-6) and Inositol: From Laboratory to Clinic. A presentation by Ivana Vucenik and A.M. Shamsuddin Annie Appleseed Project – Links to a number of IP-6 research studies.
Studies have shown that eating tomatoes and broccoli lowers the risk of prostate and breast cancer. The carotenoid, lycopene, the red substance in tomatotes, also appears to have potential benefit in treating oral, oesophageal, lung, stomach, colorectal, pancreatic, bladder, cervical and some other forms of cancer. There is also evidence that lycopene by itself is not as effective as whole tomatoes because of synergistic reactions with other tomato substances. Cooked and concentrated forms of tomato are the best sources of lycopene. So it seems like its a good idea to make your diet rich in broccoli as well as sun-dried organic tomatoes in oil, dried tomato powder, or other organic tomato concentrates, especially tomato paste and tomato sauce. Further details concerning the anti-cancer substances in broccoli and other brassicas are given in the section on indole-3-carbinol, and on tomatoes in the section on lycopene. |