It is important for us to remember that there are companies producing supplements who are NOT doing the right thing. Calling products 'natural' is easy, it does not mean anything, that is it has no (regulatory) required meaning We need to make sure the companies whose products we buy, are using good manufacturing practices (GMP). How can this be done? By asking FDA to do the right thing and make companies follow these practices. See the study on this page about Mfg Practices. FDA pretends it has no power over supplements because an act of Congress (DHSEA) allowed dietary supplements to be handled differently than patented pharmaceutical medicines. But it did not tell FDA not to enforce basic GMP. Here is the FDA statement page on dietary supplements, with their advice for the public. (It has taken almost 7 years for FDA to prepare their thoughts on how to handle dietary supplements). http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/ds-savvy.html (Tips for the Savvy Supplement User) Merck Manual explains vitamin deficiency and toxicity at http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual/section1/chapter3/3a.htm American Society for Nutritional Sciences information on vitamins and minerals: http://www.nutrition.org/nutinfo/ A quote from Leonardo Da Vinci (ODE Magazine November 2007) "Nature is so delightful and abundant in its variations that among trees of the same kind there would not be found one plant that resembles another nearby, and this is so not only of the plant as a whole but among the branches, the leaves and the fruit, not one will be found that looks precisely like another". Ann's NOTE: Doesn't this speak to the idea that making herbs or other natural elements 'conform' is a bit absurd? Ten Cautionary Statements from p 103 "Antioxidants against Cancer" by RALPH MOSS, author, advocate: 1. Do not take very high doses of vitamin A, D or E, except under a doctor's direction. 2. Do not take synthetic beta-carotene, especially if you smoke. Ann's NOTE: Please try everything you can to quit smoking). 3. Do not take high dose vitamin C as a single agent while taking either methotrexate or DTIC. 4. Do not take high-dose vitamin C supplements if you have a hereditary tendency to accumulate iron (hemochromatosis). 5. Do not take high-dose tangeretin, especially with tamoxifen. 6. Do not take NAC while you are taking cisplatin or Adriamycin. 7. Do not take zinc while you are taking cisplatin or carboplatin. 8. Do not take melatonin if you have leukemia or any other proliferative disease of the blood or lymph. 9. Do not take folic acid while you are taking methotrexate. 10. Have your progress checked by a holistic clinician. Excerpted from "Doctor Yourself" newsletter Vol 4, No 13, June 4, 2004 (Andrew Saul, PhD): "Why no new, large-scale studies of high dose selenium-vitamin E therapy? Because drugless therapy is ignored by drug companies, and consequently remains unpromoted and unknown to physicians. There is no money in products that cannot be patented. Children learn at an early age that mud pies don't sell. No investment is made, no research is done where there is no money is to be recovered. Drug companies do not expect to find, nor do they want to find, a cure that does not involve a drug". Please find other studies in the "Information by Cancer Type" section of "Relevant Studies". Am J Healthy-Syst Pharm, 2001 References Vitamin Mfgs-Cartel Price-Fixing Again??? New Regs for Natural Health Products:Canada Complaint to FTC Against ConsumerLab.com Press Release, 12/18/02 Better Safety Control of Dietary Supplements LINK 12/01 Walter Willett & M.J. Stampfer, MDs Vitamins for Chronic Disease Prevention Vits, melatonin spplmnts & complmntry remedies 4 Pain/Fatigue Use of Dietary Supplements for Illness Vitamins & Ca Trtmnt Unwanted Effects Antioxidants Effective in Inducing Lymphocyte Progression Dietary Depletion of Vit E/A Inhibits Mmmry Tumor Growth Antioxidant Supplementation:Reduced Ca Risk in MEN Use of Antioxidants w/1st Line Chemo in Ovarian Ca (2 cases) Antioxidants During Chemo/RTx Avoid - see opposite article Mortality & Antioxidants: Review Supplemental antioxidants during chemo &radiation therapy? High-Dose Antioxidants Improve Trauma Outcomes LINK to Oregon State University home to Linus Pauling Institute info on vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals Includes:prevention for younger women,leukemia,neuroblastoma, Also see a Vitamin A protocol in Ann's Bio section Retinoids-Head & Neck 13-Cis Retinoic Acid & Alpha Tocopherol Fenretinide for Prevention of Bca Ocular Effects of Fenretinide Excerpts from Artemis Cancerpage.com RN Answers on APL/AML M3 & Vit A Analogue Vitamin A May Prevent Lung Cancer in Former Smokers Memorandum to Science Writers on Isotretinoin Phase 1 Alitretinoin (vit A analogue) and Tamoxifen D3 & Retinoic Acid Analogues Induce Differentiation Carotenoids/Retinoids Prospective Study of Carotenoids, Tocopherols & Retinoids Vitamin A and Breast/Ovarian Cancer Breast Cancer and Vitamin A Long Term Effects of Fenretinide on IGF Vitamin A & Osteoporotic Fractures Excerpts from Medscape Retinol Inhibits Growth of Myeloid/Lymphoid Leukemic Cells Risk of Melanoma & Vitamin A, Coffee, Alcohol Study in Nutrition and Cancer, and others on Succinate & Vitamin E Vitamin E Succinate Vit E: Mech of Action as Tumor Cell Growth Inhibitors Vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol succinate) & Radiation Antioxidant-free Diet Slows Tumor Growth in Mice Defense of Vitamin E from Life Extension Foundation Vitamin E Reduces Chromosomal Damage/Inhibits Hepatic Tumor (mice Gamma Tocopherol Inhibits COX2 Involvement of Activator Protein-1 & Apoptosis Vitamin E Succinate Oxidant-Antioxidant Status & Survival Bca Vitamin E Suppresses PSA expression (& more) Doxirubicin/Vit E/Fish Oil (Mice) Dietary Alpha-Tocopherol Decreases A-Tocotrienol Not Gamma Vit E Neuroprotective w/Cisplatin Pentoxifylline & Vit E Regresses RTx-Induced Fibrosis Alpha-tcphrl & Ascrb Acid, Retinds/CigSmoke Vitamin E and Cardiac Disease Vitamin E Alpha-tea (Vit E derivative) Stops Mets in Mice (Food) In Vivo Angiogenesis Suppressed by Unsatrtd Vit E Tocotrienol Several studies and some basics about this important vitamin Vitamin D Analogue Prevents Skeletal Mets Effects of Synthetic Vitamin D analogues Vitamin D Analogue Inhibits Growth Vitamin D and Breast/Ovarian Cancer Antiproliferative Effect Vit D Analogues Vitamin D3 Analogues-Unique Class of Potent Inhibitors Combined Effect of Vita D3 Analogues &Paclitaxel Vita D Analogue Enhances Response to Chemo/Radiation Vitamin D in Normal and Malignant Colon Tissue Vitamin D Analogue Vitamin D Receptor Gene Assoc w/Bca Risk D3 & Retinoic Acid Analogues Induce Differentiation Vit D Nutrition & Benefits for Bone, Ca, more Vit D Guidelines Vitamin D in Men w/PSA 'relapse' After Therapy: Good Vit D Reduces Thrombosis in Ca Pts Vitamin D study Shows REDUCED Risk for Breast/Colorectal Chronic pain & Inadequate Blood levels of vitamin D Various Studies From a study in J Nutritional & Environmental Medicine, November 2008: "Thus, oral vitamin C has potential for use as a non-toxic, sustainable, therapeutic agent". Find all the details in the section on Forms of Vitamin C. Vitamin C & Anticancer Activity Vitamin C Vitamins C & K3 Kill Prostate Ca Cells Forms of Vitamin C RDA Should Be Higher For Women/Men Get IV Vit C in Case of Hospitalization Vitamin C and Non-Cancer Issues High-dose IV Vitamin C: No Pro-oxidative Biomarkers Alpha-tcphrl & Ascrb Acid, Retinds/CigSmoke Book - Ascorbate:The Science of Vitamin C Vit C can damage DNA Response to Vitamin C Junk Science study Response: Optimal Wellness Ctr. Response from Brighton and Hove (UK) Response: Proprietary Assoc of Great Britain Response:Matthias Rath, MD Vitamin C Response-Mid Hudson Options Proj Responses:Nutrition Science News Apparent beneficial effects also for reducing cancer mortality-lung, colon, rectum and prostate Life Ext Fndn on Dietary Supplements N-AC & SeleniumControl Tumor & Mets Progression Selenium Inhibits Mammary Ca in Rats Co-admin Selenium/Cisplatin: Reduced Toxicity (Mice) Reducing Cancer Risk w/Selenium Selenium-Enriched Broccoli & Intestinal Tumorigenesis (Mice) Dietary Selenite & Rat Colon Ca Impact: Selenium & Ca Prevention Selenium & Bca Rate Reduction Food products to be developed possibly CLA Induces Apoptosis (Rats) CLA, Body Fat & Apoptosis Linoleic Acid Metabolites & Ca Risk Reduction CLA Inhibits Prostate/Colorectal Ca Cells Epidemiologic Study:CLA in Diet/Post-meno Bca Conjugated Linoleic Acid/Tumor Growth Conjugated Linoleic Acid Inhibits Angiogenesis Isomers of CLA Differ in Their Beneficial Effects Dietary N-3 To Prevent Cancer: Review CLA Enhanced Anticancer Effect w/Pluronic F127 Article from Altern Med Rev 1999 and more 75 Citations Quercetin Inhibits & Acts in Chemoprevention Anti-Apoptotic Effect of Quercetin Estrogen Receptor Alpha Mediates Proliferative Effects of Phyoestrogens Sweet Cherries as a Source Flavinoid Intake & Chronic Disease (Finland) Quercetin & Hyperthermia Oral Ca Cells Inhibited by Dietary Flavonoids-Saliva Important Flavinoid Boosts Chemo Activity Naringenin (Grapefruit Flavinone) Inhibits Glucose Uptake Flavones & Cell Adhesion Use of Quercetin & Ultrasound for Human Prostate/Skin Ca Cells Gemcitabine & Flavopiridol (Synthetic flavinoid) Researcher to Explore Flavonoids & BCa Risk/Survival Kolaviron/Natl Bioflavonoid (Garcinia kola seeds) (Rats) Greater flavonol intake assocted w/reduced pancreatic ca risk Dietary Flavonoid Intake and Breast Cancer Survival among Women on Long Island resveratrol & quercetin protect cells from exogenous pro-oxidative damage Various studies on the B Vitamins B Vitamins Cut Cancer Risks Supportive Treatment with Vitamin B1 & PP A Study of Vitamin B12 in Cancer Cells Vitamin B-6 Supplemented Diets Compared in Mice Leafy Greens & B12 Vitamin B2 & Sepsis J Nutr 1/02 Pharmacological Intakes of Niacin & Bone Marrow Statement from Dr. Abram Hoffer Nicotinamid riboside: NAD Precursor Articles on Fish Oil, Farm-raised-Fish/Wild Fish consumption/cancer Omega 3 in Human Bca Cells -EPA/DHA Fish Oil and Wasting (Cachexia) Reg of Tumor Angiogenesis by Dietary Fatty Acids &EPA Effects of Genistein & EPA Wild vs Cultured Australian Abalone: More Omega-3 Short-Chain Fatty Acids Inhibit Colon Ca Study of Fish Oil and Garlic FARM Fish Information Omega-3 Augments Cancer Chemo FDA Says Canned Light Tuna LESS Mercury Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids,Inflammation/Immunity Response to JAMA on Fish Oil After Surgery Feeding w/Omega-3 Esophageal Cancer Mol Aspects Med 1994 breast cancer study,and more Medscape Review of CoQ10 Progress on Therapy of Bca w/CoQ10 & Regression of Mets Emulsified and Oil-based Have Similar Value Idebenone - Synthetic Analogue of CoQ10 CoQ10 & Tocopherols: Cervical Ca Hypothermia and CoQ10 Improve Cardiac Arrest Survival Potential Role for CoQ10 in Pediatric Cardiomyopathy RCT Co-Q10 in Patients with Renal Failure Int J Cancer, 12/01 Reducing Copper May Reduce Tumors Copper Chelator Trientine & Antiangiogenesis Copper May 'Starve' a Tumor Removing Copper from Breast Cancer Patients J Free Radic Biol Med, 8/95 Alpha Lipoic Acid & Diabetic Neuropathy Protective Effect Alpha-Lipoic & Liver Toxicity Alpha-lipoic acid Cancer Res, 10/01 J Am College of Nutrition, 4/01 Viability and Dose-Response with Mice Probiotics in Human Disease Lactic Acid Bacteria & ColonCa (Mice) Probiotics: genus, species and strains Lactobacilli, Bifido & Inulin:Rats (colon ca) Dietary Oligofructose & Inulin Immune-enhancing Effects: Dietary Fibers/Prebiotics Physiology of Colonic Metabolism Non Toxi Potentiation:Chemo- Dietary Oligofructose Prebiotic Treatment & Colon Ca (Rats) Probiotics & Helicobacter pylori Infections Some Sources for Probiotics/Prebiotics J Nutr, 2/02 Micronutrients and Innate Immunity Dietary Antiox Protects for DNA Damage (Dogs) Antiox Status of Dogs w/Dietary Antiox Nutritional Amelioration of Radiation Damage Various studies Folic Acid Prevents Gastric Ca in Animals Lactic, Citric & Folic Acid as Chemoprevention Synthetic Folic Acid-FOLTX Folinic Acid Part of Colorectal Therapy Folate/Vit B6 & Risk of Bca Pemetrexed W/Wo Folic Acid & Vit B12 J Nutrition, 5/02 Glutathione & Oxaliplatin Neurotoxicity Oxaliplatin &Glutathione:Thom Jefferson Univ Conference Glutathione Reduced Toxicity for Cisplatin:Ova Ca Glutathione Ester & Cisplatin-Induced Hearing Loss (Rats) Glutathione Chemoprotective: Bladder Ca Docetaxel & Glutathione Analog: NSCLC Endocrine-related Cancer, 3/02 retinoids, ganistein, perillyl alcohol, limonene Combo of Carotenoids, Tocopherols & Retinoids:Bca Risk Postmeno Bca Associated w/High Intake Omega-6 Total Cysteine Risk of Breast Cancer Chemoprevent w/green tea/Vit E/Ellagic Acid/Chlorphyllin (Rats) Studies, links, etc. L-Glutamine Effect of Grape Seed Proanthocyanidins on Colon/Breast Pineapple 'Energy' Drink w/carnitine Omega-3 Alpha-Linolenic Acid inhibits Mammary Tumors N acetyl-cysteine (NAC) Calcium & Reduced Risk Lactoferrin Vitamin K (Konakion) & Bone Zinc and Immune Function Gamma Linolenic Acid & Tamoxifen Multivitamins Phosphatidylserine (PS) Boosts Brain Function Magnesium Reduces Risk of Colon Cancer by 41% (WOMEN) L-Arginine Reduces Cell Proliferation in Colorectal Ca cells Breast Cancer Res & Treatment, 4/02 J Nutrition, 4/02 Nature News, 4/02 Several have been tested Oltipraz - broccoli/cabbage-like compound AMIFOSTINE Ipriflavone:Synthetic Isoflavone Synthetic Folic Acid-FOLTX Oxomate-Synthetic Compound Like Sulforaphane Lauryl Gallate Prevents Tumor Formationn (Mice) Effects of Cyclin D1/ErB/Herceptin/Flavorpiridol Idebenone Gastrointestinal Abstracts J Parenter Enteral Nutr, 9/02 Book on free radicals and vitamins, phytochemicals Radical View of Aging Br J Cancer, 9/02 SUBJECT: Against Supplement Safety Act S722 Possible uses for breast cancer, leukemia, colon cancer patients and more Inhibitory: Indole 3-carbinol & Human Bca cells Diindoylmethane: For Estrogen Metabolism DIM/I3C Safety Information Two Talks Excerpted 9/02: I-3C Indole-3-carbinol/Hepatoxicity ET-743 Protects Female Rats Jan, 2007 JNCI as reported by NCI Cancer Bulletin Calcium & Vit D May Reduce Risk of Adenoma Recurrence Chemoprevent Colon Ca:Calcium, Vit D & Folate Adding IV Calcium & Magnesium to therapy with Oxaliplatin Integrative Cancer Ther, 2006 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. 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