We have established that vitamin C has benefit in cancer treatment but the dosage and route of administration is essential determine if it has a direct anti-tumor action or a supportive function. The levels needed to achieve direct tumor killing effects are 200-1000 micromol/L (Chen et al 2007, Levine et al 2011). To achieve higher these higher anti-cancer levels, IV doses of 25-50g are required. 50g of IV vitamin C can achieve a plasma level of over 14,000 micromol/L. Oral supplementation is is not able to get anywhere near those levels since absorption is limited in the digestive tract. Blood vitamin C levels peak after 200mg of oral supplementation and maximal oral dosing before loose stools occur is around 4g (Levine et al 2011). The picture shows the difference in plasma concentration between 200mg of oral or IV vitamin C (Levine et al 2011). Even when using the same 10g dose, intravenous administration achieved a 50-150 times greater plasma vitamin C level compare to oral supplementation (Chen et al 2007, Padayatty et al 2004). So what does this mean? Get lots of vitamin C throughout the day to keep your blood levels up. You don't need much. One red sweet red pepper gives you over 300mg of vitamin C. Guava, spinach, kale, broccoli and kiwi are also very rich in vitamin C. If you are going to supplement for general health than I recommend 500-1000mg dose 2-3 times daily. If you have a cold, runny nose, canker sore, cold sore or any other infection I would increase the dose to bowel tolerance. That means 1000-1500mg 3 or 4 times a day and keep increasing until you get loose stools. These doses are very safe since the extra vitamin C is just excreted if it isn't used. However if you really want to have a direct anti-cancer effect you need to use IV treatments done by a trained doctor. In that case you would still take the oral doses on the days you don't get the IV. So when it comes to vitamin C its all in the dose and the delivery. References Chen et al. Ascorbate in pharmacologic concentrations selectively generates ascorbate radical and hydrogen peroxide in extracellular fluid in vivo. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 May 22;104(21):8749-54. Levine M, Padayatty SJ, Espey MG. Vitamin C: a concentration-function approach yields pharmacology and therapeutic discoveries. Adv Nutr. 2011 Mar;2(2):78-88. Padayatty et al. Vitamin C pharmacokinetics: implications for oral and intravenous use. Ann Intern Med. 2004 Apr 6;140(7):533-7.
0 Comments
Vitamin C is a commonly used vitamin therapy in alternative and complementary cancer treatment. It has various functions in the human body, but 2 distinct modes action have been identified when it comes to cancer therapy. When it comes to cancer prevention, vitamin C has antioxidant effects that protect key cellular functions and structure. It also prevents the formation of dangerous cancer causing compounds. The dose to achieve an antioxidant effect is low (under 5g) and is achievable by dietary intake or oral supplementation. The second mechanism of action is actually a pro-oxidant effect. This is the little know but powerful anti-cancer mechanism of vitamin C. Doses above 15g have been shown to have a “pro-oxidant” effect by generating hydrogen peroxide, which selectively destroys cancer cells. These high doses are only possible through intravenous therapy since oral supplements are limited by absorption in the digestive tract. High doses of vitamin C are delivered to the areas surrounding the tumor because the vitamin C molecule looks similar to a sugar molecule and cancer cells have an increased demand for sugar to fuel their unregulated growth. When in the area surrounding the cells, the vitamin C molecule reacts with transition metals such as iron or copper and forms a hydrogen peroxide molecule that damages the cancer cell. The picture below shows the formation of the hydrogen peroxide molecule outside the cancer cell. One proposed idea on why cancer cell are particularly vulnerable to hydrogen peroxide is that they don’t have the enzyme catalase to break it down. Click here for more information on intravenous vitamin C cancer therapy and integrative cancer care. References: Chen Q, Espey MG, Sun AY, Pooput C, Kirk KL, Krishna MC, Khosh DB, Drisko J, Levine M. Pharmacologic doses of ascorbate act as a prooxidant and decrease growth of aggressive tumor xenografts in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Aug Chen et al. Ascorbate in pharmacologic concentrations selectively generates ascorbate radical and hydrogen peroxide in extracellular fluid in vivo. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 May 22;104(21):8749-54. Todays lets talk about Magnesium. Its one of my favorite supplements and one that I use very often practice. However one of the problems with magnesium’s almost celebrity status is that the details of the multiple benefits that it has to offer are often overlooked and underappreciated. Magnesium is involved in over 300 biochemical processes in the body. One of its most important functions is that it plays a key role is producing energy. This makes it vitality important for all cellular functions and processes. It helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm regular, supports a healthy immune system, and keeps bones strong. The problem with this essential mineral is that most people do not have sufficient levels for optimal health. Can you get enough just through diet? A gradual depletion of nutrients from our soils has left many vegetables with lower levels of magnesium. Despite eating a healthy and well-balanced diet a person can develop low magnesium levels over time. A dietary surveys suggest that many North Americans do not get the minimum recommended amounts of magnesium daily (1). Even though the classic symptoms of magnesium deficiency are rare, health issues can occur well before overt deficiency. A good analogy is a rusty vs well-oiled wheel. A constant low level of magnesium will still allow the rusty wheel to turn but it will be slower and require greater effort. The same can be said about cellular energy production if magnesium levels are below optimum levels. The Magnesium Drain... Another factor that contributes to magnesium deficiency is that is often is depleted by various common conditions and medications. Since magnesium is absorbed in the small intestine conditions such as crohn’s disease, intestinal surgery, and gluten sensitivity (celiac enteropathy) and other conditions can impair absorption. Frequent diarrhea and vomiting can also cause depletion. Many commonly used medications, such as proton pump inhibitors, diuretics and antibiotics cause magnesium depletion (3,4). Some of these drugs are taken for a long time, which can create a deficiency over that time. This is especially concerning when many elderly are on multiple medications for many years. Older adults are at an increased risk for magnesium deficiency since intestinal absorption of most nutrients can decrease with age. They also have lower intakes then younger adults and often they have increased excretion (1). The combination of a diet with low amounts of magnesium, poor intestinal absorption due to intestinal damage and prescription drug use can all contribute to chronically low magnesium levels. Considering the pivotal role that magnesium plays in cellular signaling, function and energy function it is no surprise that a deficiency has a broad impact on multiple organ systems and has been linked to numerous health conditions such as chronic pain, heart disease and diabetes . Stay tuned for my next post about the different forms of magnesium and how much you should be taking. References: 1) Ford ES and Mokdad AH. Dietary magnesium intake in a national sample of U.S. adults. J Nutr. 2003;133:2879-82. 2) Rude RK and Olerich M. Magnesium deficiency: Possible role in osteoporosis associated with gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Osteoporos Int 1996;6:453-61. 3) http://www.fda.gov/drugs/drugsafety/ucm245011.htm 4) Ramsay LE, Yeo WW, Jackson PR. Metabolic effects of diuretics. Cardiology 1994;84 Suppl 2:48-56. The most important often-overlooked point about the food we eat is not the flavour or substance but the presentation and preparation. When eating a holiday meal or dining out we expect perfect flavour and presentation but how often do we consider it in our daily meals? While I admit I am not a chef, I want to briefly write about the importance not just eating healthy foods but of the presentation and process in which we create the food we eat. Our society is obsessed with convenience and one of the casualties is food. We are all familiar with fast food being poor in nutrients, vitamins and fibre but we also lose out on the important process of making and creating our own meals when we reach for something quick. If you look at some of the healthiest cultures (i.e. rural Japanese) you will find one of the common factors is a long tradition of food preparation and conscious consumption. For example, drinking green tea took place in special teahouses that prepared the tea in front of you in a way that is beautiful, nourishing, and delicious. Many other cultures have so many of the daily tasks centred around preparing and consuming food. It is not by accident that so much time and importance is dedicated to food. They clearly knew the importance of food to their health and wellbeing and therefore prioritized their time and resources to what they felt was the most important thing. The whole process is not just about getting in certain nutrients or consuming enough calories. People "ate" with their eyes, nose, ears and of course mouths. Each food was meant to be a feast for the senses to be enjoyed and savoured slowly with friends and family. The way we eat today is usually to gratify cravings, satisfy hunger and to feel good from the chemical cascade triggered in our brain. Food is meant to be savoured and enjoyed by all of our senses. This actually leads to better and more complete digestion. For example, the smell or appearance of food triggers our brain to send a signal to our stomach to start to produce digestive enzymes and stomach acid, which help break down the food we are about to eat. As a healthcare professional, so much of my focus is on improving people's diets. While this is extremely important, I want to bring your attention to the full picture of "healthful" food consumption. As part of your healing plan you should choose a diet this is high is nutrient rich foods but also try to switching your focus on preparing and presenting your food is way that ignites your appetite and imagination. I believe that the whole process of preparing and consuming food is central to achieving optimal health. There is real therapeutic value and beauty in not just how a food tastes or what nutrients it provides but how is feels in your mouth, how is smells and looks. Just like we allocate time to be active everyday, we should also dedicate time to conscious food preparation and slow and meaningful consumption. Surround yourself with beautiful, healthy food and people that you care about. Next time you go out for sushi, take a moment to savour the beautiful design of each piece before you eat it. Smell your apple next time your take a bite. You will be amazed how much fulfilling your food experience it. Remember food is not just fuel. It is fundamental, relational and transformational. Embrace these aspects to really make your food truly healing. In Health, Dr Paul Hrkal Reference: Rozin , Paul. 1999. Food Is Fundamental, Fun, Frightening, and Far-reaching. Social Research: An International Quarterly. Volume 66, No. 2: 9:30 Natural and complementary treatments for cancer are rapidly growing in use and popularity. While many people undergo conventional treatments such as chemo or radiation, natural and integrative therapies can be very effective in reducing some of the difficult side effects of conventional treatments. One common side effect that I see in cancer patients is damage to the mouth and oral mucosa after head and neck radiation. This can be an extremely painful condition causing excess mucous production, dry mouth and the inability to eat and swallow. It is very important to promote the healing of the mouth sores since it often prevents a person from eating which decreases the ability to maintain weight and take in essential nutrients. As part of a naturopathic treatment plan, acupuncture can be used to reduce pain and improve symptoms of dry mouth. A very recent study was published this year reporting weekly acupuncture improved symtoms of dry mouth after radiation treatment. After 8 weeks the patients found they did not have to wake at night as often and had less sticky saliva. It is great to see that studies are being conducted on natural treatments that are being used to support cancer patients. Acupuncture can be a great tool to address both energetic and physical symptoms. It is often a key part of my treatment plans as a supportive therapy. In the case of mouth sores after chemo or radiation it can help reduce symptoms and promote healing when used along side of other natural therapies such as intravenous vitamin C, glutamine and a herbal mouth rinse. For more information about how natural and conventional treatments can fit together please see the cancer section of my website. Reference: Simcock R, et al. ARIX: a randomised trial of acupuncture v oral care sessions in patients with chronic xerostomia following treatment of head and neck cancer. Ann Oncol. 2013 Mar;24(3):776-83. |
Welcome To My Blog
My goal is to post thought-provoking and informative articles so you can learn and apply the latest news from the world of natural health. Feel free to post comments and start a conversation. Stay tuned to my twitter and facebook feeds for the latest posts.
Archives
December 2015
|