Vitamin E in Cancer Therapy
Vitamin E is considered by many medical professionals to be the most important of all cancer fighting vitamins. It helps to protect the structure and strength of cells and stimulates the immune function. It also protects healthy cells against toxins and radiation while enhancing the ability of radiation therapy to kill cancer cells. A form of vitamin E selectively attacks cancer cells. One study noted a definite ability of vitamin E to protect laboratory animals from cancer carcinogens, while another study showed that vitamin E injected into animal tumors significantly reduced or completely eliminated the tumors.
As indicated in a previous post, a recent study concluded that vitamin E seemed to be of little benefit in preventing cancer when take in pill form. However, the study did not address the benefit of the vitamins from natural diet sources or other forms of intake.
One animal study found that vitamin E increased the effectiveness of a leading chemotherapy drug 5-FU against colon cancer in mice. Further studies are necessary to determine if the results apply to humans. This is a recurring comment in the research of natural nutritional supplements. Something shows promise in animal or laboratory studies, but further studies are necessary.
Tests have revealed that, when vitamin E is combined with succinic acid, it becomes a powerful agent for interrupting the growth of cancer cells without disturbing healthy cells. Various kinds of laboratory cultured cancerous cell and tumors have been destroyed or their growth inhibited by this vitamin E succinate compound.
In addition to its potential for arresting cancer growth directly, indications are that vitamin E can be a remedy to hair loss associated with conventional cancer treatment. According to a study highlighted in the New England Journal of Medicine, 69% of patients on Adriamicin, a common chemotherapy prescription that is usually accompanied by hair loss, did not experience the hair loss. Those who did lose some of their hair were believed to have received the vitamin E too late in the study process. Hair loss during cancer treatment is one of the worst side effects that patients have to tolerate. If vitamin E has been shown to be a potential means of avoiding this psychologically debilitating aspect of treatment, and if the nutrient is assuredly safe, why has more research not been done to verify its utility? Here is a natural, low-cost supplement that preliminary studies have shown to have significant cancer fighting properties and one that has the possibly of reducing agonizing side effects of cancer treatment. Yet, serious studies of its potential by renowned research institutions are not even being considered.
The frustration of integrative oncology advocates is that many animal studies to determine whether certain dietary supplements are effective against cancer result in positive findings, but the studies don’t continue into human observable clinical trials.
If you are familiar with the practice of an integrative oncologist, please send me his or her name, phone number, address, and web site. Send to: info@cancerchoices.org. I am gathering research for my book.