IV Vitamin C and Cancer

IV vitamin C achieves clinical success with prostate and breast cancer

(NaturalNews) IV (intravenous) vitamin C therapy has already been clinically proven to markedly improve quality of life for cancer patients, but a new landmark study has shown for the first time it can reduce inflammation and tumor markers in prostate cancer and breast cancer patients. The science behind IV vitamin C as a cancer therapy is now advancing faster than ever before, with six clinical trials currently underway worldwide, including colorectal, prostate, pancreatic and other cancers.

Dual role of IV vitamin C for cancer - Cytotoxicity and inflammation

In lab studies, high-dose vitamin C has proven to be potently cytotoxic to a wide variety of cancer cell lines as well as to boost the cytotoxicity of several common chemotherapy drugs. This has been confirmed in animal studies, where IV vitamin C decreases the growth rates of liver, ovarian, pancreatic, and glioblastoma tumors with dosages easily achievable in humans. But beyond directly poisoning cancer cells, there is another role for vitamin C to play in treating cancer: the reduction of inflammation.

Recent research has shown that greater inflammation in cancer patients is associated with poor prognosis. This may be because key features of the inflammatory environment (infiltrating leucocytes, pro-inflammatory cytokine build-up, tissue remodeling and angiogenesis) may actually facilitate cancer development. With this in mind, one of the leading alternative medicine clinics in the USA designed a trial to test the ability of IV vitamin C to reduce key inflammation markers as well as tumor markers in patients with prostate, breast and other cancers. This trial included 45 patients aged 47-85, with an average age of 68. The treatments included vitamin C infusions of 25 to 50 grams, up to three times per week. The median follow-up on patients was 7.2 years (maximum of 18 years). It should be noted that most patients had already been treated by standard therapies. The total number of vitamin C infusions given to any one patient ranged from 1 up to 102.

Inflammation markers reduced in 76 percent of cancer patients

IV vitamin C therapy was successful in reducing C Reactive Protein (CRP) levels in 76 percent of all patients in the trial. This is significant, as CRP is a well-established marker for inflammation. By the end of the trial, the average patient saw a drop in CRP levels of 80 percent (for patients who started the trials with above-normal CRP levels). In addition, for a more detailed picture, serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured for 11 patients. Of these 11 patients, all saw large reductions in these cytokines after their treatments.

Some important trends emerged from the trial. First, patients who had more IV vitamin C treatments tended to have a better response. Second, patients who began the therapy at an earlier stage of their disease had better response compared to those with more aggressive, metastatic cancer. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, patients who saw reductions in inflammation markers usually also saw reductions in tumor markers - especially for breast and prostate cancer.

Tumor markers decreased for most prostate cancer and breast cancer patients

Most impressive with this trial was that PSA levels decreased in 77 percent of prostate cancer patients while 73 percent of breast cancer patients saw decreases in CA27.29/CA15.3 (cancer antigen) and/or CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) after their treatments.

This trial gives powerful new evidence of the benefits of IV vitamin C therapy for cancer - a therapy which has few side-effects, a well-established safety profile and which is far cheaper than conventional treatments. For more information, the last reference below links to the clinic where this trial was carried out.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22963460
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17297243
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22021693
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18678913
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19246295
http://www.naturalnews.com/034663_IV_vitamin_c_cancer_treatment.html
http://www.riordanclinic.org/

About the author:
Ethan Evers is author of the award-winning medical thriller “The Eden Prescription,” in which natural medicine outperforms a billion-dollar chemo drug and threatens the entire $50 billion cancer drug industry. Ethan based The Eden Prescription on the latest science on natural medicine for cancer, and wrote it to show the future reality that natural medicine can bring us—and to warn of the strategies now being used by those who are trying to stop it. Ethan has a PhD in Applied Science.

The Eden Prescription is available on amazon: www.amazon.com/Eden-Prescription-cancer-what-think/dp/1439276552/
For breaking news and research updates on natural medicine for cancer, see Ethan’s Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Eden-Prescription/130965870291786 
For more information: www.edenprescription.com

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/037244_vitamin_C_prostate_cancer_breast.html#ixzz26wCzdyYD

Vitamin D and Bone Fractures

High-dose vitamin D needed to prevent bone fractures

(NaturalNews) If you had a major health risk you could mitigate with an inexpensive yet very effective, safe, easy treatment, would you do it - or would you think it's too good to be true? A new analysis of multiple studies on vitamin D has proven its effectiveness at preventing broken bones in elderly individuals. Yet, perhaps because there are no lobbyists for vitamin D or because of the disinformation out there, considering vitamin D usage for people with a high risk of fracture is a low priority in the medical world.

Why vitamin D is so important

Essential to good health, Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin required for the absorption and utilization of calcium and phosphorous. It protects against muscle weakness, regulates heartbeat, and is necessary for normal blood clotting and thyroid function. It enhances immunity, and is essential in preventing many types of cancer, osteoporosis, and hypocalcemia. In fact, more than 2,000 genes (approx. 1/6 of the human genome) are regulated by vitamin D, affecting the proliferation and death of cells. Vitamin D helps boost mood and brain function. It helps prevent chronic and degenerative diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, protects your heart, strengthen bones, prevents premature aging, helps guard against influenza, reduces severity of asthma, promotes hair growth, etc. Vitamin D is essential for mobility and bodily functions.

Low levels of vitamin D are also associated with increased risk of hip fractures. You need vitamin D to be able to utilize calcium you get from food. Around 300,000 people are hospitalized with hip fractures each year, and many die from complications after surgery, and many more survive but with severely diminished mobility and are therefore unable to live independently.

Why the elderly are at higher risk

It is estimated that three quarters of Americans are deficient in vitamin D. Deficiency in vitamin D can manifest in many ways. According to Bach, problems from deficiency may include: heart disease, birth defects, depression, hypertension, stroke, dementia, fibromyalgia, impaired bone mineralization, skin, breast, prostate and other cancers, multiple sclerosis, insomnia, eye problem, problems with pregnancy, and other chronic disease.

At closer to 95 percent deficient, the elderly are not only more likely to be deficient but also have a higher need for the benefits of vitamin D. They are also more likely to be on multiple prescriptions, such as cholesterol reducing drugs, that interfere with absorption, cause side-effects that vitamin D could help mitigate, and are more likely to spend their time indoors, not getting sun exposure. The most active form of vitamin D is the most natural kind, D3. It is synthesized in the skin in response to the sun's ultraviolet rays. There is a cholesterol compound in the skin that is a precursor of vitamin D. The vitamin D we get from food and supplements is not fully active until it goes through the liver and kidneys, where it is converted, then it circulates through the blood like a hormone. It is not possible for most people to consume enough vitamin D thorough diet alone.

Natural remedies of all kinds are often thought to be too good to be true, but do some research on your own and you'll find that most of them have been around far longer than what the medical establishment most often recommends. If they didn't work, they wouldn't have been used for thousands of years.

Supplementing your health with high quality, food-based vitamins is an inexpensive and effective insurance policy. As long as it is made from food, it can't hurt you and won't interfere with your medications. Don't buy vitamins from the grocery store or other big box chains. Go to a health food store where you can talk to a qualified, knowledgeable person who will help you find some good choices. Then, go home and research them some more - call the company, ask what source they use to make their vitamins. It's worth this initial legwork to be sure you are spending your money wisely, and getting what you intend. Most Americans can't go wrong adding a vitamin D supplement to their health practices.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.reuters.com

http://www.niams.nih.gov

http://www.naturalnews.com/036436_vitamin_D_deficiency_mobility.html

http://www.naturalnews.com

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/nutrition/vitamin-d-benefits

Balch, Phyllis, CNC. Prescription for Nutritional Healing. p. 21.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/036767_vitamin_D_bone_fractures_treatment.html#ixzz239c2Wxxo