Other Aspects of Cancer

Niedzwiecki A., Bhanap B., Roomi MW, Rath M.

Chapter In: Gupta R., Srivastava A., Lall R. (eds) Nutraceuticals in Veterinary Medicine. pp 611-624 2019, Springer, Cham

Abstract:

Worldwide, cancer is the second leading cause of death. Currently about ninety percent of cancer deaths are attributed to metastasis with no effective treatment options to control it. Current standard cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation are associated with multiple side effects. Nutraceuticals including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and several phytochemicals derived from diet are known to have antioxidant and anticancer properties. However, individual compounds have limited anticancer efficacy as compared to their use in combinations.

M. W. Roomi, N Shanker, A Niedzwiecki, M Rath

Journal of Cellular Medicine and Natural Health, June 2016

Abstract:

Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is an undisputable essential vitamin for human health with antioxidant and anti-cancer properties among others. It is a cofactor for a number of metabolic enzymes and has enormous health benefits. Extensive epidemiological, in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies consistently and strongly suggest the benefits of Vitamin C use in cancer treatment. Epidemiological studies have shown that people consuming a diet rich in Vitamin C are less likely to develop cancer. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that vitamin C kills cancer cells while simultaneously supporting normal cells and tissues. Clinical data indicates that intravenous administration of vitamin C is much more effective in achieving higher plasma levels, compared to oral administration, making the former the preferred means of administering Vitamin C to achieve sustainable therapeutic effect in cancer treatment. There are a wide variety of mechanisms by which vitamin C kills cancer cells and prevents their spread which include its roles as an anti-oxidant, an inhibitor of metalloproteinases and a supporter of collagen formation and tissue architecture. The therapeutic effect of Vitamin C is accompanied by the lack of cytotoxicity induced by conventional chemotherapy making it the most desirable anti-cancer therapy and one of the safest substances available to physicians. It has been observed through several studies that the anti-carcinogenic characteristics of Vitamin C are further enhanced in combination with other micronutrients such as lysine, arginine, proline and green tea extract. The synergistic effect of these nutrient mixtures can thus be considered in preventive and therapeutic aspects of cancer.

M. Chatterjee, V. Ivanov, A. Niedzwiecki, M. Rath

Journal of Cellular Medicine and Natural Health, Sept 2017

The majority of scientific and epidemiological evidence supports the beneficial effects of micronutrient supplementation on various aspects of health. However, there have also been reports that some dietary supplements and vitamins can promote the growth of cancer. Given that the popularity and use of nutritional supplements is growing, it is important to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the efficacy of commercially available nutritional supplements.

Nutritional products on the market vary. Many contain single nutrients, while others contain combinations of vitamins, minerals, plant extracts and other nutritional components. The efficacy of such products will differ, but it is rarely, if at all, explained by manufacturers. Usually the selection of specific ingredients is based on published research conducted on individual vitamin, mineral or other nutritional components, however the biological outcome of the combination may depend on the synergistic or antagonistic interactions of its ingredients, the source of its raw materials, and the dose. Manufacturers of nutritional supplements typically do not invest in scientific micronutrient research, mostly taking care of the technological aspect of the formulations.

M.W. Roomi, A. Niedzwiecki, Ph.D., M. Rath, M.D.

Dr. Rath Research Institute,  1260 Memorex Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95050

J Nutri Med Diet Care 2018, 4:029

Abstract: