Top 10 Cancer Fighting Supplements 2024
Can supplements influence cancer risk? Dive into 1,000+ research studies to
find out.
Certain bioactive compounds, found in foods, are known to have strong
epigenetic (cancer correcting) benefits. Supplements concentrate those
benefits.
A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis of 14 RCTs
(randomized controlled trials), published in Ageing Research
Reviews (Kuznia 2023) found vitamin D3 supplementation reduced cancer mortality by
6%. This wasn’t considered statistically significant, but when
only studies involving daily vitamin D intake were analyzed,
cancer mortality dropped by a significant 12%.
*Note: "Death from anything" may be a clearer term for the
layperson as opposed to 'All-cause mortality'. This is one of
the best measures for the factors that increase the risk of
what eventually and most likely will take someone's life.
The first randomized-controlled trial to investigate the
combination of three complementary treatments for the
prevention of cancer and suggest that the combination
of daily vitamin D3, supplemental marine omega-3s, and a
simple home exercise program may be effective in the prevention of invasive cancer
among generally healthy and active adults aged 70 and older.
Findings from a study performed in mice, research from Harvard
Medical School’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston
demonstrated omega-3 fat could reduce tumor growth by 67% (R).
The research was presented April 4, 2022 at the annual Experimental Biology meeting in Philadelphia. The animal model showed that omega-3 fatty acids helped promote the cancer-fighting activities of immunotherapy and anti-inflammatory therapy.
Flax seed is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which
may reduce the risk of certain cancers. When supplementing, try to avoid flaxseed oil because
it lacks the nutrients of ground flax seed. Ground flax seed
can be purchased online or found in many larger grocery store
chains. Simply sprinkle some ground flax seed on your food and
enjoy.
Make sure you buy high-quality omega-3 fatty acid supplements, meaning that the omega-3 fatty acids are pure and have not oxidized much (having low “TOTOX” value).
TOTOX value stands for total oxidation value. The omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA from fish oil are highly sensitive to oxidation. This means that they are rapidly affected by contact with oxygen. Oxidised fatty acids are not beneficial to our health. For this reason, a good fish oil supplement has a low TOTOX value. The maximum TOTOX value is set at 26 by the Global Organization for EPA and DHA omega-3.
*Umbrella review: An umbrella review, or a review of reviews, is a systematic review that only considers other systematic reviews as an eligible study type for inclusion.
2022 - A meta-analysis to review the association between vitamins and brain cancer
showed that intake of vitamin C, β-carotene, and folate can
reduce the risk of brain cancer, while high serum α-tocopherol
(vitamin E) concentration also has a protective effect on
brain cancer.
High-dose vitamin C cancer therapy was introduced by Linus
Pauling and Ewan Cameron [R]. Clinical demonstration results by Pauling and Cameron
showed that intravenous injection of 10 g/day of vitamin C
extended the survival time of terminal cancer patients by
about 4.2 times. However, results from the Mayo Clinic in 1979
showed that the survival time of vitamin C–treated patients
was even shorter than that of the placebo group patients [R]. A significant difference between those two research groups
was the route of AA administration: intravenous injection and
oral administration, respectively.
"More recently, vitamin C given through a vein
(intravenously) has been found to have different effects
than vitamin C taken in pill form. This has prompted renewed
interest in the use of vitamin C as a cancer treatment.
There's still no evidence that vitamin C alone can cure cancer, but researchers are studying whether it might boost the effectiveness of other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, or reduce treatment side effects.
There are still no large, controlled clinical trials that have shown a substantial effect of vitamin C on cancer, but some preliminary studies do suggest there may be a benefit to combining standard treatments with high-dose IV vitamin C."
Vitamin C as a cancer therapy has had a controversial past.
What has been intriguing are small clinical trials that
suggest some responses, but with no clear rationale for why
cancers should respond to vitamin C or a path forward for
explaining which patients are most likely to respond. Now a
growing number of preclinical studies are showing how
high-dose vitamin C might benefit cancer patients.
Importantly, these preclinical studies provide a clear
rationale and potential biomarkers that may help personalize
the therapeutic approach and identify patient populations
that are likely to respond to high-dose vitamin C therapy.
Since the mechanisms of action of vitamin C are becoming
better defined, we can propose vitamin C combinations in a
more rational, hypothesis-driven manner. In addition, given
the current high financial cost of new cancer drugs, it
seems rational to improve the effectiveness of current
therapies by studying their clinical interactions with
vitamin C. In our view, the implementation of this treatment
paradigm could provide benefit to many cancer patients.
Several studies have demonstrated an association
between high magnesium intake and reduced risk of
colorectal cancer (CRC).
An analysis of the prospective, Swedish Mammography Cohort (JAMA 2005), evaluated 61,433 women aged 40 to 75 without a history of cancer for a mean follow-up of 14.8 years. The highest quintile of magnesium intake was associated with a significantly lower risk of CRC compared with the lowest quintile. This benefit was observed for both colon and rectal cancers.
A case-control study evaluated 2204 subjects from the Tennessee Colorectal Polyp Study (2007), which demonstrated that increasing total magnesium intake was significantly associated with decreasing risk of CR.. The highest tertile of dietary magnesium intake (>298 mg/day) was significantly associated with reduced risk of CRC in an age-adjusted model.
A study of 140,601 postmenopausal women from the Women’s Health Initiative (2015) with an mean follow-up of 13 years demonstrated a significant reduction in CRC risk with the highest quintile of total magnesium intake compared with the lowest quintile of magnesium intake. The benefit was driven by colon cancer, with a trend for rectal cancer.
Pancreatic Cancer
A study of 66,806 subjects aged 50 to 76 at baseline from the Vitamins and Lifestyle cohort (Nature 2015) evaluated magnesium intake and the incidence of pancreatic cancer during a mean follow-up of 6.8 years. Subjects with magnesium intake below the recommended dietary allowance were more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, particularly in those whose intake was less than 75% of the recommended dietary allowance. In this study, a 100 mg/day decrease in magnesium intake resulted in a 24% increase in risk of pancreatic cancer.
Melatonin is also known to play a fundamental role in
regulating the sleep-wake rhythm; however, in the last
10 years it has been discovered that it is actually
involved in many other biological mechanisms, also
playing an important role in the inflammatory,
metabolic and neoplastic processes. In fact, the
mechanisms by which melatonin performs an anti-tumor
effect are many: it has an anti-oxidant effect that
protects against DNA damage, acts as a scavenger of
reactive oxygen species (which undermine genomic
stability), stimulates DNA repair mechanisms, improves
the functioning of the mitochondrial respiratory
chain, and inhibits mitochondrial mitophagy and
telomerase activity (Molecules 2018).
Reduction of melatonin production has also been seen
in some types of cancer (breast and prostate) (Mogavero 2021).
2022 - An umbrella review of meta-analyses based
on randomized controlled trials (Pharmacological Research 2022):
"Survival at one year (P < 0.005)
significantly increased with cancer patients."
"All trials included solid tumor cancers. All
trials were conducted at the same hospital
network, and were unblinded. Melatonin reduced the
risk of death at 1 yr (relative risk: 0.66).
Effects were consistent across melatonin dose, and
type of cancer. No severe adverse events were
reported. The substantial reduction in risk of
death, low adverse events reported and low costs
related to this intervention suggest great
potential for melatonin in treating cancer."
According to a 2018 review, EGCG and green tea extracts may help prevent or
delay cancer onset, cancer recurrence, and secondary
growths from cancer.
However, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) state that studies of green tea and cancer in humans have so far produced inconsistent results.
Green tea also contains chemicals called
polyphenols that have antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory properties and anti-angiogenic
properties, and the catechins in green tea
polyphenols show very strong anti-angiogenic
properties.
Some studies show health benefits in people who
drink as little as one cup per day, while other
studies deem five or more cups per day to be optimal
(Source, Source).
2022 - A paper published in August 2022 in Nutrition Research analyzed the pro-apoptotic effect that quercetin has on aging cells. The paper reviewed preclinical and early phase data using quercetin as a senolytic agent and found the data showed it was effective in “preventing or alleviating cancer formation.”
The authors reviewed the importance of cellular aging in the development of cancer cells and the effect that quercetin may have on the suppression of cancer cell proliferation.
Cellular senescence is a dynamic and multi-step process that is associated with alterations in metabolic activity and gene expression. This can compromise tissue regeneration and contribute to aging. On the other hand, by removing senescent cells, age-related dysfunction can be attenuated and potentially extend the lifespan.
The study was conducted on the basis of the Shandong
Intervention Trial, a randomized,
placebo-controlled, factorial-designed trial
(1995-2003) in a well-recognized high-risk area for
GC in China. Participants were continuously followed
up to December 2017 for 22.3 y (1995-2017). A total
of 3,229 subjects were included.
One study of 543,220 participants found that those who ate lots of Allium vegetables, such as garlic, onions, leeks and shallots, had a lower risk of stomach cancer than those who rarely consumed them (Source).
A study of 471 men showed that a higher intake of garlic was associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer (Source).
Related: Garlic, the ‘King of Cancer Prevention’
Current AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini from Google and Copilot from Microsoft
might return generic answers to your questions. While these can be a
starting point, they often lack the depth you might crave.
We are not going to recommend you take a multivitamin and mineral if you already have the disease. Why? because the vitamins are usually synthetic and deficient, and the minerals include iron, which is known to help cancer cells thrive.
While your cancer specialist or oncologist may not dive deeply into supplements during consultations, these aspects can be crucial for your well-being.
These natural supplement strategy can be found in some common, everyday items available in any neighbourhood supermarket.
These natural supplement strategy can be found in some common, everyday items available in any neighbourhood supermarket.
So
why isn’t it making headlines as the greatest cancer breakthrough of the
21st century?
Legacy mainstream media often overlooks preventive measures due to a
profit-driven focus. This leaves many people confused about the role of
supplements in cancer prevention. We have to shovel through a lot of dirt
to find the gold.
This article here is developed as a consumer guide and is not meant to
share the various technical theories related to cancer but to share
practical preventive strategies that we could put into action
immediately. The goal of this article is to summarize the relevant, updated and
practical points so that you could have your personal blue-print to
incorporate supplements to prevent or fight cancer.
We'll also analyze relevant studies, keeping in mind that new
research emerges constantly. We have filtered out all those unproven ‘internet noise’ out there in
the virtual world and have summarized the overwhelming information out
there into the following list of ‘actionable’ strategies.
In This Article:
- Vitamin D3 and K2
- Omega-3
- Turmeric (Curcumin)
- Vitamin C
- Magnesium
- Molecular Hydrogen
- Green tea (EGCG)
- Melatonin
- Quercetin
- Garlic (Allicin)
Best Cancer Fighting Supplements: Evidence Based
1. Vitamin D3 and K2
Is vitamin D the most powerful anti cancer supplement? Vitamin D can absorb calcium and help the immune, muscle, and
nervous systems function properly. There are more than 12,000
search results on vitamin D and cancer on PubMed.
In another 2023 meta-analysis, 116 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were analysed. The meta-analysis concluded that
vitamin D reduces lung cancer mortality.
The first randomized-controlled trial (DO-HEALTH) trial to
investigate the combination of three complementary
treatments for the prevention of cancer and suggest that the
combination of daily vitamin D3, supplemental marine
omega-3s, and a simple home exercise program may be
effective in the prevention of invasive cancer among
generally healthy and active adults aged 70 and older.
Findings from a 3 year Randomized Controlled Trial with more
than 2,000 participants observed a 61% reduction in the risk
of invasive cancer among patients who completed a home
exercise program and took vitamin D3 and omega-3 fatty acids daily. These results, from
the DO-HEALTH trial, were published in Frontiers in Aging 2022.
A number of epidemiologic studies have also investigated
whether people with higher vitamin D intakes or higher blood
levels of vitamin D have lower risks of specific cancers. The
results of these studies have been inconsistent, possibly
because of the challenges in carrying out such studies. For
example, dietary studies do not account for vitamin D made in
the skin from sunlight exposure, and the level of vitamin D
measured in the blood at a single point in time (as in most
studies) may not reflect a person’s true vitamin D status.
Also, it is possible that people with higher vitamin D intakes
or blood levels are more likely to have other healthy
behaviors. It may be one of these other behaviors, rather than
vitamin D intake, that influences cancer risk.
The cancers for which the most human data are available are colorectal, breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancer. Numerous epidemiologic studies have shown that higher intake or blood levels of vitamin D are associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer (R). In contrast, the Women’s Health Initiative randomized trial found that healthy women who took vitamin D and calcium supplements for an average of 7 years did not have a reduced incidence of colorectal cancer (NEJM 2006). Some scientists have pointed out that the relatively low level of vitamin D supplementation (10 μg, or 400 IU, once a day), the ability of participants to take additional vitamin D on their own, and the short duration of participant follow-up in this trial might explain why no reduction in colorectal cancer risk was found.
The cancers for which the most human data are available are colorectal, breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancer. Numerous epidemiologic studies have shown that higher intake or blood levels of vitamin D are associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer (R). In contrast, the Women’s Health Initiative randomized trial found that healthy women who took vitamin D and calcium supplements for an average of 7 years did not have a reduced incidence of colorectal cancer (NEJM 2006). Some scientists have pointed out that the relatively low level of vitamin D supplementation (10 μg, or 400 IU, once a day), the ability of participants to take additional vitamin D on their own, and the short duration of participant follow-up in this trial might explain why no reduction in colorectal cancer risk was found.
According to BreastCancer.org, research suggests that certain cancers such as breast cancer, can
have a higher risk of occurring when the body has
low levels of vitamin D.
Studies also show a link between vitamin D deficiency
and cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer (Sizar, 2020).
Many experts now recommend 800 to 1,000 IU a day, a goal
that's nearly impossible to attain without taking a
supplement.
In 2016, a landmark study published in PLOS ONE found that women over
55 with blood concentrations of vitamin D higher
than 40 ng/ml, had a 67% lower risk of cancer
compared women with levels lower than 20
ng/ml.
Although the role of vitamin D in cancer
prevention remains an area of research interest
and debate, avoiding deficient levels is
recommended. (American Cancer Society 2020)
Vitamin D can also be absorbed through sunlight, or
with the following diet:
- fatty fish
- egg yolks
- fortified milk
The Optimal Vitamin D Level for Cancer Prevention
Research has shown that once you reach a minimum serum vitamin D level of 40 ng/mL (100 nmol/L), your risk for cancer diminishes by a whopping 67%, compared to having a level of 20 ng/mL or less.
Research has shown that once you reach a minimum serum vitamin D level of 40 ng/mL (100 nmol/L), your risk for cancer diminishes by a whopping 67%, compared to having a level of 20 ng/mL or less.
Make sure to take 500 mg to 1000 mg of magnesium and 150
mcg of vitamin K2, (not K1) which are important cofactors
for optimizing vitamin D function. And, remember the only
way you know what your vitamin D level is, is to test it.
Vitamin D level should be in a therapeutic range of 50 to
70 ng/ml for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Most
people are shocked how low their level is when they
finally get around to testing it.
You'll also want to ensure you're following an overall
healthy lifestyle to reduce your cancer risk as much as
possible.
Recommendation: Target a Vitamin D level of 50-70
ng/mL.
Caution: The dosage for vitamin D
in prevention (1,000 to 2,000 IU daily)
is very much different from the high
dose treatment dosage i.e. 20,000 to
50,000 IU daily. Always consult your doctor
first!
2. Fish Oil (Omega-3 Fatty Acids)
PubMed has indexed more than 3,000 research studies
on Omega-3 and cancer. Most people use fish oil supplements to
enhance the amount of omega-3’s in their
diet.
Findings from a 3 year Randomized Controlled Trial with more than
2,000 participants observed a 61% reduction in the risk of
invasive cancer among patients who completed a home exercise
program and took vitamin D3 and omega-3 fatty acids daily.
These results, from the DO-HEALTH trial (ClinicalTrials.gov
identifier NCT01745263), were published in Frontiers in Aging 2022.
The research was presented April 4, 2022 at the annual Experimental Biology meeting in Philadelphia. The animal model showed that omega-3 fatty acids helped promote the cancer-fighting activities of immunotherapy and anti-inflammatory therapy.
Many governments recommend eating omega-3 containing fatty fish,
two times per week. But that is often not enough. Ideally,
people would need to eat fatty fish four times per week, while
also supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids, at least 1,000 mg
of pure omega-3 (DHA and EPA) per day.
However, fish oil was shown in one study on mice (2015) to possibly reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy, and
for that reason ground flax seed is a worthy alternative.
Make sure you buy high-quality omega-3 fatty acid supplements, meaning that the omega-3 fatty acids are pure and have not oxidized much (having low “TOTOX” value).
TOTOX value stands for total oxidation value. The omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA from fish oil are highly sensitive to oxidation. This means that they are rapidly affected by contact with oxygen. Oxidised fatty acids are not beneficial to our health. For this reason, a good fish oil supplement has a low TOTOX value. The maximum TOTOX value is set at 26 by the Global Organization for EPA and DHA omega-3.
3. Vitamin C
PubMed has indexed more than 3,000 research studies on vitamin C and cancer and more than 5,000 studies on vitamin E and cancer. United States Preventive Services Task Force has
recommended the use of Vitamin C and E supplementation for
cancer prevention (R).
Prevention
2022 - An umbrella review* (Xu 2022) to assess the existing systematic reviews and
meta-analyses for the association between vitamin C intake and
multiple health outcomes; showed that vitamin C intake was
associated with reduced risk of all-cause mortality,
cardiovascular disease (CVD), oesophageal cancer, gastric
cancer, cervical cancer and lung cancer with an increment of
50–100 mg per day.
Beneficial associations were also identified for respiratory,
neurological, ophthalmologic, musculoskeletal, renal and
dental outcomes. A total of 76 meta-analyses (51 papers) of
randomised controlled trials and observational studies with 63
unique health outcomes were identified. Harmful associations
were found for breast cancer and kidney stones for vitamin C
supplement intake.
*Umbrella review: An umbrella review, or a review of reviews, is a systematic review that only considers other systematic reviews as an eligible study type for inclusion.
2022 - Obese women who took vitamin C and B6 at amounts that
exceeded the recommended daily intake levels were associated
with a lower risk of breast cancer, according to a five-year
long South Korean cohort study. 40,432 women without a history of cancer at baseline were
included in this study.
A 2017 meta-analysis of 11 studies concluded that patients with lower
concentrations of serum vitamin E (the vitamin E level in your
blood) had a higher risk for colorectal cancer.
2023 - A systematic review to evaluate the existing literature on the safety and
efficacy of vitamin C, E and selenium supplementation in
oncology patients. Findings were generally favorable among the
studies, and adverse effects of supplementation were limited.
The review concluded that antioxidant supplements may provide
benefits in reducing incidence or severity of
treatment-induced side effects with limited risk for adverse
effects.
Treatment
2022 - A systematic review on the effect of vitamins C and E on cancer survival
showed improvement of survival and progression rates of
cancers by vitamins C and E. However, the authors concluded
that more high quality trials with large sample sizes are
required to confirm.
Vitamin C is known as an antioxidant, but at high
concentrations, vitamin C can kill cancer cells through a
pro-oxidant property (Transl Oncol. 2020). This study has also demonstrated that vitamin C
treatment with magnesium supplementation provided more
effective anticancer therapy than vitamin C treatment
alone.
To understand the mechanism of AA's anticancer activity, many
research groups have treated colon, prostate, leukemia,
lymphoma, brain, and stomach cancer cells and chemically or
genetically transformed cancer cells with AA and showed cancer
growth inhibition and even cancer cell death through hydrogen
peroxide–mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation [R]. In most cases, the pharmacological concentration of
vitamin C required for anticancer effects (EC50 value of 1–10
mM) could only be achieved by intravenous administration.
Thus, to apply vitamin C as an anticancer therapy, a high
intracellular concentration in cancer cells is critically
important (R).
According to the Mayo Clinic (2023):
There's still no evidence that vitamin C alone can cure cancer, but researchers are studying whether it might boost the effectiveness of other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, or reduce treatment side effects.
There are still no large, controlled clinical trials that have shown a substantial effect of vitamin C on cancer, but some preliminary studies do suggest there may be a benefit to combining standard treatments with high-dose IV vitamin C."
According to the concluding remarks from a 2020 article from
the National Cancer Institute:
4. Turmeric (Curcumin)
Curcumin is one of the nutrients with the most evidence-based
literature supporting its use against cancer. There are more
than 7,000 search results on curcumin and cancer on PubMed and more than 50 clinical trials with curcumin, most of which are still ongoing. The spice
turmeric can be extremely helpful when it comes to fighting
cancer.
Interestingly, curcumin appears to be universally useful for
just about every type of cancer (Arslan 2022), which is really odd since cancer consists of a wide variety
of different molecular pathologies.
In a 2016 study, a team of scientists at the University of Pittsburgh and
at Pondicherry University, India, discovered the bioactive
ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, can both prevent and cure
bowel cancers. The team found the compound triggered cancer
cell death by increasing a level of protein labeled GADD45a.
Lead author Rajasekaran Baskaran, Ph.D., who has more than
20 years of experience in cancer research, commented:
"Studies on the effect of curcumin on cancer and normal cells will be useful for the ongoing preclinical and clinical investigations on this potential chemo-preventive agent."
Studies show that the curcumin in turmeric may kill cancer cells
and slow tumor growth. This preclinical research has taken
curcumin from the lab to the clinic.
The benefits of curcumin may include:
- blocking cancer cells from multiplying
- killing colon, breast, prostate, and melanoma cancer cells
- slowing tumor growth
A review paper published in 2022, analysed 21 human studies.
Sixteen out of 21 clinical trials were associated with
the effectiveness of curcumin or turmeric on various
types of cancer, and the other five clinical trials were
related to the evaluation of the efficacy of curcumin or
turmeric in relieving the side effects of cancer
chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The emerging data from
the clinical trials confirm that curcumin has the
potential for cancer prevention and intervention.
Both curcuminoids and related turmeric products have
been sanctioned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) as safe.
Why Whole Turmeric Is Ineffective
Unfortunately, while there's some curcumin in whole turmeric, there's not enough in the regular spice to achieve clinically relevant results. The turmeric root itself contains only about 3% curcumin concentration. Another major limitation of curcumin as a therapeutic agent is that it is poorly absorbed. When taken in its raw form, you're only absorbing about 1% of the available curcumin.
Unfortunately, while there's some curcumin in whole turmeric, there's not enough in the regular spice to achieve clinically relevant results. The turmeric root itself contains only about 3% curcumin concentration. Another major limitation of curcumin as a therapeutic agent is that it is poorly absorbed. When taken in its raw form, you're only absorbing about 1% of the available curcumin.
Because it's not easily absorbed through your
gastrointestinal tract, it's more effective to use a
high-quality bioavailable curcumin extract, according to
a 2013 study. A typical anticancer dose is just under 1 teaspoon of
curcumin extract three or four times daily.
However, in the case of colon cancer, this poor absorption
into the bloodstream may be an advantage. As there is poor
absorption, higher levels of curcumin stay in the
intestinal tract for longer periods of time, having an
effect on gastrointestinal cancers.
In one study, participants took a 1,080 milligram (mg) dose per day
of curcumin for 10 to 30 days between their initial biopsy
and surgical removal. The patients taking the supplement
experienced a reduction in blood levels of inflammatory
agent, improvement in their body weight and an increased
number of dying tumor cells.
"Studies on the effect of curcumin on cancer and normal cells will be useful for the ongoing preclinical and clinical investigations on this potential chemo-preventive agent."
New Curcumin Forms
Convenience and efficiency has driven many of the changes
in the forms of curcumin in later years. Because it's a
fat-loving or lipophilic molecule, many newer preparations
now include some sort of oil or fat, which improves its
absorbability and bioavailability. Such preparations
typically have seven to eight times higher absorption than
the raw, unprocessed 95% concentration of dry powder.
There are also newer sustained release preparations.
Turmeric and black pepper each have health benefits, due
to the compounds curcumin and piperine. As piperine
enhances curcumin absorption in the body by up to 2,000%,
combining the spices magnifies their effects. (Healthline)
5. Magnesium and Cancer
PubMed has indexed more than 5,000 research
studies on magnesium and cancer.
Colorectal Cancer
An analysis of the prospective, Swedish Mammography Cohort (JAMA 2005), evaluated 61,433 women aged 40 to 75 without a history of cancer for a mean follow-up of 14.8 years. The highest quintile of magnesium intake was associated with a significantly lower risk of CRC compared with the lowest quintile. This benefit was observed for both colon and rectal cancers.
A case-control study evaluated 2204 subjects from the Tennessee Colorectal Polyp Study (2007), which demonstrated that increasing total magnesium intake was significantly associated with decreasing risk of CR.. The highest tertile of dietary magnesium intake (>298 mg/day) was significantly associated with reduced risk of CRC in an age-adjusted model.
A study of 140,601 postmenopausal women from the Women’s Health Initiative (2015) with an mean follow-up of 13 years demonstrated a significant reduction in CRC risk with the highest quintile of total magnesium intake compared with the lowest quintile of magnesium intake. The benefit was driven by colon cancer, with a trend for rectal cancer.
Pancreatic Cancer
A study of 66,806 subjects aged 50 to 76 at baseline from the Vitamins and Lifestyle cohort (Nature 2015) evaluated magnesium intake and the incidence of pancreatic cancer during a mean follow-up of 6.8 years. Subjects with magnesium intake below the recommended dietary allowance were more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, particularly in those whose intake was less than 75% of the recommended dietary allowance. In this study, a 100 mg/day decrease in magnesium intake resulted in a 24% increase in risk of pancreatic cancer.
6. Melatonin
PubMed has indexed more than 3,300 research studies
on melatonin and cancer.
The Mediterranean Diet (MD) dietary pattern is also
rich in antioxidants, such as melatonin. A systematic
review published in Antioxidants (Elena 2023) showed high melatonin contents in MD-related foods,
such as tomatoes, olive oil, red wine, beer, nuts, and
vegetables. The consumption of specific MD foods
increases melatonin levels and improves the
antioxidant status in plasma.
Melatonin is one of the most important antioxidant
molecules. In the human body — aside from having
direct antioxidant effects — it also stimulates the
synthesis of glutathione and other important
antioxidants like superoxide dismutase and catalase.
Many people are not aware that only 5% of your
body’s melatonin — which is also a potent anticancer
agent — is produced in your pineal gland. The other
95% is produced inside your mitochondria — provided
you get sufficient near infrared exposure which is
typically from sun on your bare skin. This is why
vitamin D is more than likely a biomarker for sun
exposure, which is intricately involved in melatonin
production. (R)
In addition, melatonin increases the expression of
the p53 protein, induces its phosphorylation,
inhibiting cell proliferation, promotes apoptosis,
reduces the levels of the vascular endothelial
growth factor and endothelin-1, fundamental for
tumor growth and metastasis formation, reduces
inflammatory processes and cell migration (Molecules 2018).
Melatonin - Treatment
2020 - A case series of 14 advanced cancer patients
(Trends in Oncology 2020), treated with high dose (1,000 mg/day) of
melatonin; achieved a disease control of 54% of the
patients:
"Moreover, this preliminary study may also
suggest that high dose melatonin has no toxicity
in cancer patients with poor clinical status, as
well as in healthy subjects."
2005 - A systematic review of 10 randomized
controlled trials (J Pineal Res 2005):
7. Green Tea (EGCG)
PubMed has indexed more than 2,000 research
studies on EGCG and cancer.
The Minnesota Green Tea Trial (MGTT. 2015) is the largest and longest
double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized
intervention study that specifically evaluated
the effects of oral GTE (green tea extract)
containing defined quantities of EGCG on
established biomarkers of breast cancer risk.
They randomized and stratified 1075 healthy
postmenopausal women at high risk of breast
cancer according to their breast tissue
density and catechol-O-methyltransferase
genotypes and divided them into two groups:
537 placebo and 538 green tea groups. Green
tea group participants took 4 capsules that
contained 843 mg EGCG, whereas the placebo
group took capsules without green tea
extracts.
Researchers measured changes in percent
mammographic density, circulating endogenous
sex hormones, and proteins of the insulin-like
growth factor axis. Their results showed
that supplementation with green tea
extract could modify and reduce mammographic
density (MD) and protect against breast
cancer, even though it was only significant in
younger women (50–55 years) and had no effect
in older women (R), an age-dependent effect similar to
those of tamoxifen.
However, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) state that studies of green tea and cancer in humans have so far produced inconsistent results.
Several epidemiological studies (2011) have reported that the
consumption of green tea may decrease cancer
risk. Studies have also confirmed
numerous health benefits of green tea including
prevention of cancer (R, R) and cardiovascular disease, as well as
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiarthritic,
antibacterial, and antiviral effects. (R, R, R, R).
If you have cancer, consider drinking up to 3 cups
of green tea per day to experience the benefits.
Green tea pills are also available, but may be too
concentrated.
8. Quercetin
PubMed has indexed more than 4,000 research
studies on quercetin and cancer.
2022 - A paper published in August 2022 in Nutrition Research analyzed the pro-apoptotic effect that quercetin has on aging cells. The paper reviewed preclinical and early phase data using quercetin as a senolytic agent and found the data showed it was effective in “preventing or alleviating cancer formation.”
The authors reviewed the importance of cellular aging in the development of cancer cells and the effect that quercetin may have on the suppression of cancer cell proliferation.
Cellular senescence is a dynamic and multi-step process that is associated with alterations in metabolic activity and gene expression. This can compromise tissue regeneration and contribute to aging. On the other hand, by removing senescent cells, age-related dysfunction can be attenuated and potentially extend the lifespan.
2020 - Another paper (2020) identified some of the
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiproliferative
properties quercetin has that enhances breast cancer
treatment, while another (2020) evaluated its effect on the
treatment of ovarian cancer, which is a serious
cancer growth and threat to women's health.
2019 - Research also has demonstrated that quercetin can
promote the loss of cell viability and autophagy
through several pathways, including those involving
mitochondrial function and glucose metabolism.
This study published in 2017 in Oncology Reports took things a step further, finding that quercetin induced cancer cell death in nine types of cancer, including prostate cancer, colon cancer, and breast caner.
This study published in 2017 in Oncology Reports took things a step further, finding that quercetin induced cancer cell death in nine types of cancer, including prostate cancer, colon cancer, and breast caner.
Quercetin affects endothelial (thin membrane lining
heart and blood vessels) cell proliferation,
migration, and angiogenesis. As an anti-angiogenic
compound, it has been shown to have a targeted
effect on tumor angiogenesis in both in vitro and in
vivo experiments. It has also been demonstrated in
animal experiments that quercetin can reduce
angiogenesis.
In another 2017 study, researchers gave quercetin to mice with tumors. Researchers found that mice in the quercetin-treated group showed delayed tumor growth, no significant changes in daily behavior, significantly better survival ratings, and increased rates of cell death.
In another 2017 study, researchers gave quercetin to mice with tumors. Researchers found that mice in the quercetin-treated group showed delayed tumor growth, no significant changes in daily behavior, significantly better survival ratings, and increased rates of cell death.
Quercetin may also target bladder cancer. In 2016, researchers published a landmark study in the
American Journal of Cancer Research. Researchers
analyzed quercetin’s effect on cancer cells in a
test tube. They concluded, “We are the first to show
that quercetin displays potent inhibition on bladder
cancer cells via activation of AMPK pathway.”
According to Mount Sinai, quercetin should be used with caution as it may
interact with certain antibiotics by reducing the
effectiveness of the drug. It may also enhance the
effect of some blood thinners, which can increase
your risk of bleeding. In addition to these, it may
interact with corticosteroids, digoxin, cyclosporine
and fluoroquinolones.
9. Garlic (Allicin) and Onion
PubMed has indexed more than 1,200 research
studies on garlic and cancer. Garlic and onions belong to the Allium genus of
plants.
2023 - A randomized controlled trial (RCT) on
garlic and gastric cancer (GC), published
in January 2023, found a significant reduction in the risk of
developing GC with increasing dietary intake of
allium vegetables, particularly garlic
vegetables.
2020 - A meta-analysis of 11 studies,
published in January 2020, did find evidence that garlic could
reduce the risk of ColoRectal
Cancer.
Another study published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical
Oncology (2019) revealed the odds of
getting ColoRectal Cancer were 79% lower
in those who a diet high in allium
vegetables, which include garlic, leeks
and onions.
One study of 543,220 participants found that those who ate lots of Allium vegetables, such as garlic, onions, leeks and shallots, had a lower risk of stomach cancer than those who rarely consumed them (Source).
A study of 471 men showed that a higher intake of garlic was associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer (Source).
Based on these findings, including 2–5
grams (approximately one clove) of fresh
garlic into your diet per day can help you
take advantage of its health-promoting
properties.
Several clinical studies have found an association between garlic intake and a lower risk of certain types of cancer.
Despite the promising results showing an
association between garlic and a reduced
risk of cancer, more studies are needed to
examine whether other factors play a
role.
Garlic is a great choice when it
comes to giving your body a little extra
protection. To reap the benefits of
garlic, you should eat one clove per
day, or 300 to 1,000 milligrams (mg) of garlic extract.
The active component in garlic is
allicin, a compound that has been
shown to kill off cancer cells in
multiple test-tube studies (Source, Source, Source).
There is evidence demonstrating garlic
can kill cancer cells in vitro.
Several studies have analyzed the
effects that dietary garlic may have
on the development of colorectal
cancer.
Several clinical studies have found an association between garlic intake and a lower risk of certain types of cancer.
10. Molecular Hydrogen and Cancer
There is little evidence to show that molecular hydrogen
can reduce the risk of cancer.
However, in terms of cancer management or treatment,
studies involving the effects of H2 on cancer were
systematically reviewed. More than 600 articles related
to molecular hydrogen and cancer were retrieved from
Cochrane, PubMed and Google Scholar, and 27 articles
were included for this systematic review (2023).
Based on the authors' analysis, "H2 plays a promising therapeutic role as an
independent therapy as well as an adjuvant in
combination therapy, resulting in an overall
improvement in survivability, quality of life, blood
parameters, and tumour reduction."
Although H2 has demonstrated significant anti-cancer
effects, the underlying mechanisms have not yet been
elucidated. Many studies have shown that H2 therapy can
reduce oxidative stress. This, however, contradicts
radiation therapy and chemotherapy, in which ROS (Reactive
Oxygen Species) are required to induce apoptosis and
combat cancer.
Can Antioxidant Supplements help Prevent Cancer?
It's important to emphasize caution when it comes to these natural
products. It wasn't long ago that, after finding that people who
ate a diet rich in foods containing beta-carotene had a lower risk
of lung cancer, researchers set out to study the potential effect
of supplements of beta-carotene on risk. Unlike the reduced risk
seen with dietary beta-carotene, however,
beta-carotene in supplement form was associated with an
increased risk of developing the disease.
To update its 2014 recommendation, the US Preventive Services Task
Force (USPSTF) commissioned a review of the evidence on the efficacy
of supplementation with single nutrients, functionally related
nutrient pairs, or multivitamins for reducing the risk of
cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mortality in the general adult
population, as well as the harms of supplementation.
According to the recommendation, the USPSTF recommends against the
use of beta carotene or vitamin E supplements for
the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer. (JAMA 2022)
It is possible that the lack of benefit in clinical studies can be explained by differences in the effects of the tested antioxidants when they are consumed as purified chemicals as opposed to when they are consumed in foods, which contain complex mixtures of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals (Source).
The best way to prevent cancer is by maintaining good health, like from eating a nutritious whole-food diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, and a healthy lifestyle. No amount of supplements can replace an unhealthy lifestyle i.e. sedentary, heavy smoker, alcoholic, a very stressful lifestyle, overweight and obesity.
It is possible that the lack of benefit in clinical studies can be explained by differences in the effects of the tested antioxidants when they are consumed as purified chemicals as opposed to when they are consumed in foods, which contain complex mixtures of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals (Source).
Caution and Concern
It's important to emphasize caution when it comes to these natural products. It wasn't long ago that, after finding that people who ate a diet rich in foods containing beta-carotene had a lower risk of lung cancer, researchers set out to study the potential effect of supplements of beta-carotene on risk. Unlike the reduced risk seen with dietary beta-carotene, however, beta-carotene in supplement form was associated with an increased risk of developing the disease.Outlook
When interpreting scientific studies, let’s remember that cell culture results are trumped by mouse results. Mouse results are trumped by human results. Case studies & small human trial results are trumped by double-blind placebo controlled ones.
While there’s no silver bullet supplement, there are some anti-cancer supplements on the market that may help you keep the disease at bay or stop it from getting worse.
Whether you’re living with cancer, a survivor, or just concerned for your health, talk to your doctor to determine the best treatment for you.
- Cancer prevention should be part of a multi-modal approach in order to provide the best possible outcome. The above Diet and lifestyle recommendations are proven methods to reduce your cancer risk. That said, there is no miracle diet or treatment that can prevent all cancers.
- You could also complement your research and read more from the American Cancer Society site. The site has comprehensive information on cancer. You could read more on cancer prevention by cancer type here: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/prevention
- For more information on treatment, causes and prevention, screening, and the latest research, check out this comprehensive resource page (by cancer type) from National Cancer Institute: https://www.cancer.gov/types.
Read More: This article is part of the Winning the War on Cancer series.
Other diet and cancer related articles:
- Gendicine, The First Approved p53 Gene Therapy Product for Cancer: 20 Years Track Record
- Best Natural Ways to Anti Aging and Longevity (2024 Edition)
Disclaimer
- Please do not consider this guide as personal medical advice, but as a recommendation for use with professional providers. Consult with your doctor and discuss with her/him.
- Our aim here isn't to replace your doctors' advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information. Do take note that most strategies are not 100% protective against cancer. It's a continuous struggle between the immune system and the cancer cells.
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