nutritional-Can-Supplements-have-and-an-Effect-on-the-Outcome-of-Cancer

Can Supplements have and an Effect on the Outcome of Cancer?

In 1994, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assessed the effect of megadoses of vitamins on the recurrence rate of cancer of the bladder. A supplement containing the RDA of vitamins and minerals was given to half the patients. The other half took a supplement that contained 40,000 IU of vitamin A, 100 mg of vitamin B6, 2000 mg of vitamin C, 400 IU of vitamin E, and 90 mg of zinc. Results after five years were impressive: people with cancer who received the RDA supplement had a tumor recurrence rate of 91 percent. People who received the higher dose supplement, in contrast, had a recurrence rate of only 41 percent. (Lamm D. et al., Megadose vitamins in bladder cancer: A double-blind clinical trial.
Journal of Urology. 1994; 151:21-16).

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In December 1996 Dr. Kee-Ching,G. Jeng et al published their study of vitamin C and vitamin E supplementation in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. They recruited 40 healthy male and female volunteers aged 22-55
years old from the staff and students of the Taichung Veteran's General Hospital and Providence University in Taiwan. Subjects were administered vitamin C (1000 mg per day), or synthetic vitamin E (400 mg per day) or
vitamin C and synthetic vitamin E at the aforementioned dosages, for 28 days. The results of the study clearly showed that the subjects receiving the combination of vitamin C and vitamin E had the most improved parameters in immune system function as measured by blood levels of Interleukin-1B and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. This group also demonstrated the lowest level of free radical damage as measured by plasma lipid peroxidation concentrations on day 14.

This group also had the lowest production of prostaglandin E2 and enhanced tumor necrosis factor-alpha. The conclusion of the researchers of the study is that the combined supplementation with vitamins C and E is more immune system boosting (immunopotentiating) than supplementation with either vitamin alone in healthy adults (21).