Mesothelioma Influenced by Vitamin A?

Posted on Wednesday, September 16, 2009.

Vitamin A is a very important vitamin to maintaining health.  We all know it is found in foods like carrots and is important in maintaining eyesight.  Now, several independent research studies over the last three decades have suggested that vitamin A could possibly have an impact on managing and preventingmesothelioma.

Vitamin A has many essential functions in the human body including: sustaining vision, bone growth, reproduction, cell division, cell differentiation and helping to maintain the immune system – the body’s defense against infection. Vitamin A comes from animal sources (such as liver and whole milk) and plant sources. Retinoids which are chemically related to vitamin A have been implicated as anti-carcinogenic.  For example, according to an article published in a leading medical journal: “At the cellular level, the anti-leukemia and anti-cancer activity of retinoids is the result of three main actions, cell-differentiation, growth inhibition and apoptosis.”1

Cruciferous vegetables and carotene may make mesothelioma less likely

In a 1988 study performed by the National Cancer Institute, the dietary patterns of mesothelioma patients were compared to those of healthy individuals.2  According to the article, mesothelioma patients ate less homegrown, cruciferous vegetables and all vegetables combined before they were diagnosed compared to healthy patients.  Cruciferous vegetables, also called Brassica Vegetables, include Arugula, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Watercress, Bok Choy, Turnip Greens, Kale, and Mustard Greens. The researchers also pointed out that carotene intake was significantly lower for the mesothelioma patients.  Carotene is a precursor to vitamin A. 

Vitamin A or beta-carotene may decrease the risk of mesothelioma

In this 1996 study from the Division of Epidemiology of the American Health Foundation, the investigators examined the association between dietary intake and mesothelioma by studying 94 men and women with malignant mesothelioma and 64 people without cancer.  They concluded that their results provided “some justification for the hypothesis that provitamin A or beta-carotene may decrease the risk of mesothelioma.”3  Provitamin A is any of the carotenoids that are precursors of vitamin A and can be found in fish-liver oils, egg yolk, milk products, green-leaf or yellow vegetables, and fruits. 

Retinoic Acid may make mesothelioma less likely to metastasize

In a study from 2002, researchers looked at mesothelioma cells in vitro (in test tubes or Petri dishes outside the body) and found that retinoic acid (the oxidized form of Vitamin A) “may lead to a decrease of mesothelioma cell local invasion.” They interpreted this to mean that retinoic acid may modify how mesothelioma grows and spreads in the body.4  This study suggests that vitamin A levels could possibly affect the aggressiveness of mesothelioma once someone is diagnosed with the disease.

Low levels of retinol associated with increased risk of developing mesothelioma

And in 2006, Australian researchers looked at former workers and residents exposed to crocidolite (blue asbestos) inWestern Australia. Their findings suggested that “people with chronically low plasma levels of retinol (the fat-soluble animal form of vitamin A found in liver and eggs) have increased risk of developing mesothelioma and lung cancer.”5

Will vitamin A ever become part of a protocol to prevent or manage mesothelioma?  These independent studies are very preliminary, but their conclusions are intriguing.  In addition, there are anecdotal reports of long-time mesothelioma survivors using vitamin A as part of their healing regiments.  But first a great deal more research is needed.

Note: If you are interested in using vitamin A in relation to any disease please speak to your licensed healthcare practitioner.

Endnotes

1. Garattini E, et al., Retinoids as differentiating agents in oncology: a network of interactions with intracellular pathways as the basis for rational therapeutic combinations. Curr Pharm Des. 2007;13(13):1375-400.

2. Schiffman MH, et al., Case-control study of diet and mesothelioma inLouisiana. Cancer Res. 1988 May 15;48 (10):2911-5

3. “A high consumption of fruit and vegetables reduces the risk of several types of cancer. There is little information on the association between dietary intake and mesothelioma. A hospital-based case-control study of 94 men and women with malignant mesothelioma and 64 control patients without cancer was conducted to determine the odds associated with consumption of carotenoid-containing fruits and vegetables...These results provide some justification for the hypothesis that provitamin A or beta-carotene may decrease the risk of mesothelioma.” Source:Muscat JE, Huncharek M.  Dietary intake and the risk of malignant mesothelioma. Br J Cancer. 1996 May;73(9):1122-5.

4. Scarpa S, et al., Retinoic acid inhibits fibronectin and laminin synthesis and cell migration of human pleural mesothelioma in vitro. Oncol Rep. 2002 Jan-Feb;9(1):205-9.

5. “Increased rates of death from asbestos-related diseases have been reported in former workers and residents exposed to crocidolite (blue asbestos) at Wittenoom (Western Australia). The relationships between plasma concentrations of retinol, carotene and vitamin E and incidence of mesothelioma and lung cancer in a cohort of people from this town were examined…These findings suggest that people with chronically low plasma levels of retinol have increased risk of developing mesothelioma and lung cancer.”  Source: Alfonso HS, et al., Plasma vitamin concentrations and incidence of mesothelioma and lung cancer in individuals exposed to crocidolite atWittenoom,Western Australia. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2006 Aug;15(4):290-4.

© Surviving Mesothelioma and Cancer Monthly.  All rights reserved.

http://www.survivingmesothelioma.com/news/view.asp?ID=0068

Mesothelioma, lung cancer and nutrition

Saturday, October 24, 2009 - by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger - Editor of NaturalNews.com

(NaturalNews) Mesothelioma doesn't have to be fatal. This rare form of lung cancer has long been feared by workers exposed to asbestos in their work environments, and much of that fear is justified: This form of cancer can be deadly. But it doesn't always have to be.

There are natural ways to greatly extend life, even for those suffering from mesothelioma. Most are based on nutritional therapies, as you'll see below. It may seem counterintuitive to suppose that nutrition could play a role in a disease caused by aphysical substance (asbestos), but in fact, antioxidants and phytonutrients that support healthy cellular protection can play a substantial role in preventing the onset of cancer.

Below, we've collected research from a number of noted natural health authors who explain more about what really causesmesothelioma and how to better protect yourself against it using nutritional therapies. It's not a huge collection of solutions, but the information you'll find here should provide more clues for further research.

This is a unique collection of research exclusive toNaturalNews. If you use any quotes from this research, please provide proper credit to both NaturalNews and the original author of the quote.

Natural remedies to help prevent Mesothelioma

Asbestos causes cancer, particularly lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the membrane lining the chest or abdominal wall. Exposure to asbestos has also been shown to cause cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, stomach, intestines, rectum, and kidney. Smoking greatly increases the likelihood of lung cancer in people exposed to asbestos. One study found that asbestos-exposed smokers have ten times the death rate from lung cancer as exposed nonsmokers. Kidney cancer and gastrointestinal cancers also have been associated with asbestos.
- Staying Healthy in a Risky Environment: TheNew YorkUniversityMedicalCenter Family Guideby Arthur C. Upton, M.D.

In a 1998 study done in Western Australia, 1024 blue asbestos workers known to be at high risk of diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer, were enrolled in a cancer prevention program using vitamin A. Half the subjects were given 30 mg per day of beta carotene and the other half 7500 mcg (25,000 IU) of retinol. The workers were followed up from the start of the study in June 1990 until May 1995. Four cases of lung cancer and three cases of mesothelioma were observed in those in the vitamin A group, and six cases of lung cancer and 12 cases of mesothelioma in the beta carotene group.
- The New Encyclopedia of Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements and Herbsby Nicola Reavley

In Louisiana, a study of lung cancer showed fruit intake to be protective, while a small study of mesothelioma suggested that vegetable and carotenoid intake lowers the risk (NCI, 1988). TheNational Cancer Institute also announced that it had awarded over half a million dollars to theNew YorkBotanical Garden to undertake a worldwide search for natural plant substances that might fight cancer. At the same time, NCI has established a Cancer Nutrition Laboratory and worked out elaborate plans to study "dietary factors associated with cancer risk".

. http://www.naturalnews.com/027321_cancer_asbestos_mesothelioma.html

Asbestos and Garlic

Posted on Wednesday, May 06, 2009.

Garlic may reduce the carcinogenicity of asbestos is the conclusion of several studies that have been performed inIndia. 

Asbestos fibers are a well known carcinogen that causesmesothelioma and other diseases, however, the underlying mechanisms of their action have still not been clearly identified.  According to these studies, asbestos can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS).  ROS are ions or very small molecules that have unpaired electrons and can lead to biological damage.  Examples of ROS include oxygen ions, free radicals, and peroxides.

Antioxidants can reduce asbestos-induced ROS release and garlic contains numerous sulfur compounds and glutathione precursors which act as antioxidants.  In fact, garlic contains at least 33 sulfur compounds, several enzymes, 17 amino acids and several minerals.  The studies found that many of the sulfur rich compounds in garlic increased the activity of various enzymes which in turn reduced the carcinogenicity of asbestos.

For example, one study revealed that at appropriate concentrations diallyl sulfide (a compound in garlic) protects mesothlelial cells against asbestos induced genotoxicity and another study concluded that garlic extract (Allium Satvium) reduced the carcinogenetic potential of chrysotile asbestos in human blood lymphocytes. 

Sources:

Lohani M, et al., Diallylsulfide attenuates asbestos-induced genotoxicity. Toxicol Lett. 2003 Jun 5;143(1):45-50.

Bhattacharya K, et al., Reduction of chrysotile asbestos-induced genotoxicity in human peripheral blood lymphocytes by garlic extract. Toxicol Lett. 2004 Nov 28;153(3):327-32.

http://www.survivingmesothelioma.com/news/view.asp?ID=0030

Mesothelioma and Other Cancer Treatments may be Affected by Vitamin C

Submitted by MedHeadlines on 13 October, 2008

Vitamin C is an antioxidant, which is a class of molecule that is known to help prevent cancer by removing oxygen-free radicals from the body. However, researchers in theUnited States have recently discovered that taking avitamin C supplement while undergoing chemotherapy may actually reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs.

Such forms of cancer that may be affected by vitamin C include mesothelioma, lung cancer, and many other types of cancer.Patients going throughmesothelioma treatments should especially be concerned because attaining positive results from any kind of therapy is hard enough as it is.

The study was carried out by Dr Mark Heaney and colleagues of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre inNew York, and was recently published in the journal Cancer Research.

To get these results, the researchers took human cancer cells and grew them in vitro with vitamin C, and then addedchemotherapy drugs to see if the addition of vitamin C had any effect.

What they found was that when vitamin C was added, the chemotherapy drugs killed between 30% and 70% fewer cancer cells than when vitamin C was not added.

The researchers also implanted mice with human cancer cells, and then gave the mice vitamin C before treating them with chemotherapy. In the mice that were given vitamin C, the tumors grew at a more rapid pace.

The chemotherapy drugs used in the experiments wereCisplatin, doxorubicin, methotrexate,vincristine, and gleevec. All of these drugs work in different ways to kill cancer cells. Of the results, Dr Mark Heaney said, “The vitamin C didn’t neutralize the effects of the chemotherapy drugs, but it blunted their effects. Vitamin C is something everyone needs to have in their diet or you can develop scurvy. But I don’t recommend taking supplemental vitamin C during that period of time that my patients are receiving chemotherapy.”

Content provided byMesotheliomaCancerCenter

http://medheadlines.com/2008/10/13/mesothelioma-and-other-cancer-treatments-may-be-affected-by-vitamin-c/