I am a 36 year old male in good health. I exercise regularly by jogging and cross country skiing. I am concerned about the increased risk of prostate cancer as one gets older. I have read about the benefits of vitamin A in lowering the risk of this type of cancer. I normally follow a low fat diet and consume vegetables, fruits and whole grains on a daily basis. I should also mention that I consume a large amount of dairy products such as 2% milk, low fat yogurt and low fat cheese. I your opinion, would it be beneficial to take vitamin A supplements? I presently take vitamin C and E supplements.

Best regards,

RSJ
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

There has been so much in the media about prostate cancer. I can understand your concern, and yes the rate of incidence is rising. There are estimates about 122,000 new cases per year of prostate cancer in the United States.

An article appeared in the July 15, 1997 issue of Family, Practice News reporting new data from the Physicians' Health Study. It showed that the relationship between intake of beta carotene and prostate cancer to be quite complex.

The National Cancer Institute funds the Physicians’ Health Study. The study began in 1982 when 22,071 male physicians were randomized to receive either beta-carotene or placebo and were followed in a double-blind fashion for 12 years. Men who had very low levels of beta-carotene had a low risk of prostate cancer when they took 50,000 units of beta-carotene a day. However, men who had higher than normal levels of beta-carotene in there blood had a higher rate of prostate cancer if they took supplements of beta-carotene. Dr. Meir Stampfer reported these results at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Dr. Stampfer is professor of epidemiology, and nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

A close look at the data showed that men who initially had low levels of beta-carotene, indicating a low intake of fruits and vegetables had a 36% greater rate of cancer at all sites compared to men with the highest level of initial beta-carotene. Since levels of beta-carotene often reflect a person's fruit and vegetable consumption, these results are consistent with various other studies that testify fruits and vegetables protect against cancer.

Flagg et al. reported in Epidemiological studies of antioxidants and cancer in humans, that though encouraging there is no supportive data and vitamin A’s roll in prostate cancer and that a protective effect of antioxidants in cancer will be derive from on-going intervention trials.(Journal of American College of Nutrition, October 1995

We know that Vitamin A is anti-aging, vital to maintaining cell membranes. It helps to care for your skin, hair, teeth, gums, and bones, and it’s essential to the over all health of your eyes.

So with a definitive answer still out I say, why not supplement with vitamin A. However, by taking too much of one carotenoid, we may cause an imbalance or relative deficiency of another within our tissue and cell. Hence, do not over do it with mega-doses.

We offer a full spectrum of carotenoids in our office if your interested in our products let us know.

Dr. Warner

My mother suffers from arthritis. Can you suggest some vitamins that can help her?

AJ
Hartford, Connecticut

Since you did not state whether you mother suffers from rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis a.k.a. degenerative joint disease (DJD), here is info for both.

Yours in Natural Health,

Dr. Warner

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Due to changes to the GI mucosa resulting from the inflammatory process of RA the following can result:

The malabsorption increases nutrient requirements.

Specific nutrient needs for individuals with RA

Vitamin B6: Low levels found in patients

Vitamin C: Low serum levels found; may be deficient

Fe (iron): Defect in metabolism manifest as hypochromic anemia; elevated in synovial fluid

Cu (copper): Increased ceruloplasmin and serum copper levels in RA

Se (selenium): May be deficient and some patients have low serum Se levels

Histidine: Levels are decreased in RA patients

Diet for RA

Decrease

Increase

• Whole grains, cereals, and breads
• Complex carbohydrates
• Spinach and beans: alpha-linolenic acid
• Cold water fish: Pg3 series; omega 3 fatty acids - 10 capsules per day
• Linseed oil or flaxseed oil: alpha linolenic acid; 1 gm. Q.I.D. (four times daily)
• Omega 3 fatty acids (EPA) 20 x 1 g/d max. EPA for 6 weeks.

Supplements for RA (MONITOR CLOSELY):

• D-L Phenylalanine: 500-2000 mg/day
• Vitamin B6: 25-50 mg/day
• Vitamin E: 400-1200 IU/day
• Zn (zinc): 20-50 mg/day
• Ca (calcium): 2000 mg/day
• Mg (magnesium): 1000 mg/day
• L-Histidine: 1 gm/day
• Ascorbic acid: 1-3 gm/day

Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD)

Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) or Osteoarthritis is the most common form of joint disease. DJD is a Degenerative disorder without systemic manifestations, is non-inflammatory, and the process involves pathologic degeneration of articular cartilage and its related components.

Primary DJD

Primary DJD is defined as the process by which articular degeneration occurs in the absence of any obvious underlying abnormality.

Secondary DJD

Secondary DJD is defined as articular degeneration as a result of alteration of a preexisting

condition (i.e. congenital or developmental disorder, trauma, prior inflammatory joint disease,

gout, endocrine disorder, bleeding dyscrasial neuropathic joint disease, excess corticosteroid

injection, etc.).

DJD spares no age, race, or geographic region. In the United States, 20 million people suffer from this condition. Ninety percent of people of over the age of 40 years have radiological evidence of DJD in weight-bearing joints. The role of symptomatic disease increases with age. There is a greater incidence in males vs. females.

Nutritional Therapy

Antioxidants: consider vitamin E, vitamin C, copper, selenium, and other antioxidants.

Niacinamide: 1000 - 4000 mg/day depending on severity may relieve symptoms and improve range of motion.

DL-Phenylalanine: 1500 - 2500 mg/day may be used for unremitting pain.

Chondroprotective Nutrients: glycosaminoglycans (GAGS) or mucopolysaccharides support, including manganese sulfate, chondroitin sulfated, and magnesium.

Is it possible to overdose on water-soluble (especially b vitamins) vitamins. Particularly in elderly, sedentary women taking doses of b vitamins in excess of 5,000mg (of each) daily. I cannot find info on this anywhere. I would think that an inactive elderly person who is not well hydrated could possibly accumulate these vitamins and have side effects!!??

What do you think?

M F
Penn State

Does yogurt fight cancer?

D W
Calabasis, CA

What is less known, and less studied, is that friendly microorganisms found within fermented milk products could potentially reduce the incident of tumors. For instance, in the colon Lactobacilli can produce compounds that can inhibit the local activity of beta-glucuronidase and nitroreductase, two enzymes involve in carcinogenesis.

But can compounds secreted by friendly microorganisms also influence tumor formation at a distance from the gastrointestinal system? At lease two studies have indicated a reduced risk of breast cancer in women who consume fermented milk products (Veer, Le)

Researchers at the National Institute for the study and Cure of Cancers in Milian, Italy, set out to evaluate the role of these friendly microorganisms on MCF7 breast cancer cell in vitro. Five different bacterial strains were used. All the bacteria strains were grown in reconstituted skim milk. The results showed that all the fermented milks inhibited cancer growth. However, B infantis and L acidophilus were the most effective.

Interestingly, the anti-proliferative effect was not related to the presence of bacteria in fermented milk, whole milk, or its main fractions (lactalbumin of B-lactoglobulin fractions). The researchers concluded. "Our findings suggest the presence of an ex novo soluble compound produced by lactic bacteria during milk fermentation or the microbial transformation of some milk components in a biologically active form. Although the mechanism of the antitumor activity is not clear, the present study suggests the potentially offered by fermented milk produces of compounds with anti-proliferative activity useful in the prevention and therapy of solid tumors like breast cancer"

Reference:

1. Biffi A, Coradini D, Larsen R, Riva L, Di Fronzo G: Antiproliferative effect of fermented milk on the growth of human breast cancer cell line. Nutrition and Cancer 28(1):93-99, 1997

2. Le MG, Moulton LH, Hill C, Kramer A: Consumption of dairy products and alcohol in a case control study of breast cancer. JNCI 77:633-636, 1986.

3. Veer P, Dekker JM, Lamars JW, et al: Consumption of fermented milk products and breast cancer: a case-control study in The Netherlands. Cancer Res 49:4020-4023, 1989.