Nutritional Supplements for Cancer Prevention

The Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry has published a study conducted at Cornell University, New York. In this study, which involved human breast cancer cells, turmeric and apple extracts were discovered to inhibit the abnormal proliferation of the cancer cells. This fact has suggested the potential beneficial use of turmeric and apple extracts in a patient with breast cancer. Standard chemotherapy treatments target cell proliferation and induce the cancer cells’ death. Unfortunately, often as a result cancer cells develop the resistance by activation of the nuclear factor KB. By doing this, cancer cells are increasing cell proliferation and resisting death. In this study, breast cancer cells treated by turmeric and apple extract were found to significantly inhibit nuclear fact KB activation. This effect was found to be dose dependent, which means that higher doses of apple extracts and turmeric has revealed higher potency in inhibiting nuclear factor KB and, therefore, increasing the chances of cancer cell distraction. The authors of this study concluded that turmeric and apple extracts may provide support therapy in cancer treatment by decreasing the toxicity and increasing the efficacy of chemotherapy agents. Keeping in mind that apple extract and turmeric have no known toxicity effect, they definitely deserve further evaluation as the potential adjuvant in the treatment of cancer.

High dietary vitamin B6 intake may lower colorectal cancer risk. In a large perspective study which involved over 81,000 middle aged Japanese men and women an adverse association was found between dietary vitamin B6 intake and risk of colorectal cancer in men. Dietary intake was evaluated by using a Food Frequency Questionnaire. There were 526 new cases of colorectal cancer identified during the 47 years of this longitudinal study. The significant negative association was found between the intake of vitamin B6 and the risk of developing colorectal cancer in males. In fact, this risk was 31% lower compared to men with low intake of vitamin B6. Interestingly enough, men who consumed more than 150 grams of alcohol per week, the vitamin B6 concentration in the diet expressed even higher protective effect against cancer of the colon and rectum. The conclusion of the study was that low vitamin B6 intake associated with increased risk of cancer of the colon and rectum. Higher intake of vitamin B6 may be even more beneficial in males who consume a higher amount of alcohol per week.

The blood level of folic acid and risk of liver damage and developing liver cancer was studied by the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. There, a perspective study involving over 400 patients with hepatitis B was conducted. The result of the study suggested that higher levels of folic acid in the blood may be associated with decreased risk of liver damage and cancer of the liver. During four years of follow-up, 20 patients had developed liver cancer. Statistically significant negative associations were observed between serum level of folic acid and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). In addition, higher folic acid levels in the red blood cells were associated with 67% decreased risk of developing liver cancer compared to the lowest level of folic acid in the red blood cells. The conclusion of this study was that increased level of folic acid in humans may help reduce theprobability of developing liver damage and liver cancer.