Ann's NOTE: Also look at the section called Information by Cancer Type. Remember vitamins are meant to be used in combination. Especially the antioxidants (E, C, selenium, A, beta-carotene, etc). HSI (Health Science Institute) panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., "Any nutritional doc who knows anything at all knows not to use alpha tocopherol, natural or otherwise, because using the alpha fraction without the other fractions - beta, delta, and gamma - causes the other fractions to decrease in value. This is why good supplements are always of the 'mixed tocopherol' variety, containing all the fractions". How an increased intake of alpha-tocopherol can suppress the bioavailability of gamma-tocopherol. Wolf G. Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, USA. ilsipress@ilsi.org alpha-Tocopherol is the only form of vitamin E in vitamin supplements, whereas gamma-tocopherol is the predominant form of vitamin E in the US diet. gamma-Tocopherol has beneficial properties as an anti-inflammatory and possibly anti-atherogenic and anticancer agent. Excess a-tocopherol taken in supplements causes a reduction of gamma-tocopherol concentration in plasma. The biochemical mechanism of this effect, which is important to human nutrition, has recently been elucidated. Nutr Rev. 2006 Jun;64(6):295-9. VITAMIN E AND CANCER by Abram Hoffer, M.D., PhD. Vitamin E includes the tocopherols of which d-alpha tocopherol is the most active. It is the major lipid soluble antioxidant protecting the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in membranes against peroxidation. The usual intake is about 12 IU/day. Peroxidation of the PUFA causes membrane damage. Vitamin E has other protective properties. It destroys nitrite, which has been shown to increase the incidence of cancer. It protects the red blood cells in lungs against the toxic effect of ozone and hydroxyl radical toxicity. Thus it has been shown to have a weak protective effect against some of the cancers (1) More recent studies have shown an inverse relationship between levels of Vitamin E in blood and the development of cancer. One study (2) compared the vitamin E levels in 289 patients with cancer of the colon and rectum against 1267 matched controls. The E levels were slightly lower in the cancer cases. Similar findings were reported by Knekt (3), Palan et al., (4), and de Vries, et al (5). Knekt and colleagues (6) examined alpha-tocopherol levels in 36,2675 adults in Finland. After eight years there were 766 cases of cancer. Persons with low levels had 1 1/2 times the chance of getting cancer compared to the highest level. The association was strongest with gastrointestinal cancers and for other cancers not related to smoking. LeGardeur et al (7) concluded from their data that vitamin E deficiency may be associated with lung cancer and to a greater degree than vitamin A. Thus the association between cancer and vitamin E consumption and cancer is not strong, but an increasing number of reports appear showing that there is some connection. When so many variables are involved it is very difficult to find very high correlations between the condition and the effect of only one of the nutrients. As long as we can not be sure what are the most effective cancer preventive agents and therapeutic compounds it seems only prudent to ensure that the subjects are obtaining enough vitamin E. The main question is how much is enough. Certainly the role of the RDA's is being seriously questioned by many and recommendations have been made that for each disease there may be unique RDA. Literature Cited: (1) Comstock, G.W. Helzlsouer, K.H. and Bush, T.L. Prediagnostic serum levels of carotenoids and vitamin E as related to subsequent cancer in Washington County, Maryland. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 53: 260 S - 264 S, 1991. (2) Longnecker, M.P. Martin-Morreno, J.M. Knekt,P. Nomura, A.M. Schober,S.E. St:ahelin,H.B. Wald, N.J. Gey, K.F. and Willett, W.C. Serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations in relation to subsequent colorectal cancer: pooled data from five cohorts. J. Nat Can Institute 84; 430-435, 1992. (3) Knekt, P. Role of vitamin E in the prophylaxis of cancer. Annals of Medicine 23; 3 - 12, 1991. (4) Palan, P.R. Mikhail, M.S. and Romney, S.L. Plasma levels of antioxidant beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol in uterine cervix dysplasia and cancer. Nutrition and Cancer 15; 13 - 20, 1991. (5) de Vries, N and Snow, G.B. Relationship of vitamins A and E and beta-carotene serum levels to head and neck cancer patients with and without second primary tumors. European Archives Oto-rhino-laryngology 247; 368-370, 1990. (6) Knekt, P. Aromaa, A. Maatela, J. Aaran, R.K. Nikkara, T. Hakama, M. Hakulinen, T. Peto, R. and Teppo,L. Vitamin E and cancer prevention. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 53, 283S-286S, 1991. (7) LeGardeur,B.Y., Lopez, A. and Johnson, W.D. A case-control study of serum vitamins A,E, and C in lung cancer patients. Nutrition and Cancer 14; 133-140, 1990. More information by Dr. Hoffer about cancer treatment: http://www.doctoryourself.com/cancer_hoffer.html Details of a natural adjunctive cancer therapy: http://www.doctoryourself.com/cancer.html |
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