Health Article: Grape seed Extract (GBE) Emerges as Anti-Cancer Powerhouse Thanks to Pro-Active Supplement Users

Article By Ethan Evers

(NaturalNews) The therapeutic potential of grape seed extract as anti-oxidant, anti-hypertensive and anti-inflammatory is so well established that this natural supplement is now being used in seven on-going clinical trials, only one of which is on cancer (of the breast). But the spotlight may soon shift to grape seed extract’s anti-cancer potential as recent landmark studies on human patients have just uncovered its remarkable protective effects against three major cancers: squamous cell carcinoma, prostate and hematologic malignancies. Even more remarkable is that this breakthrough in the science of natural medicine was not due to the foresight of medical practitioners who designed the trials, but to the patients who took grape seed extract, on their volition, as a nutritional supplement to support general health.

74% Risk Reduction of Skin Cancer (SCC)
A recent study, just published in June 2011, was carried out in northern California on 830 participants to test the effects of general supplement use on the occurrence of squamous cell carcinoma (the second most common skin cancer). The supplements in use included vitamins A, C, D, E, multivitamins and grape seed extract. Only the users of grape seed extract experienced a significant reduction in risk (P = 0.031) of squamous cell carcinoma–by an astounding 74%. Multivitamin users experienced 29% reduced risk, but this was only borderline statistically significant.

62% Risk Reduction of Prostate Cancer
A much larger study conducted in Washington State tracked 35,239 male participants starting in the year 2000 in the Vitamins and Lifestyle (VITAL) cohort. Participants, aged 50-76 years, answered detailed questionnaires about specialty supplement use for the 10 years prior to the start of the study. Prostate cancer risk was assessed after a median follow-up time of 6.1 years. The results showed grape seed extract to be the stand-alone winner. Men, who used an individual grape seed extract supplement with “high average use” over 10 years, experienced a significant 62% risk reduction of prostate cancer compared to non-users, while average users of grape seed extract supplements experienced a 41% risk reduction. None of the other supplements observed in this study (CoQ10, fish oil, garlic pills, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, glucosamine, chondroitin or saw palmetto) were seen to offer protection against prostate cancer. Note, however, that green tea was not one of the supplements considered. This study was published in May 2011.

43% Risk Reduction of Hematologic Cancers
The same VITAL cohort as used for the prostate cancer study was also used to assess risk of hematologic cancers (involving blood, bone marrow or lymph nodes). The population was expanded to include women, for a total of 66,227 participants. Those who had ever used grape seed supplements saw a 43% risk reduction for hematologic cancers. This was only matched by those with a “high use” of garlic, who saw a 47% reduction of risk. No other supplements offered significant protection. This study was published in August 2011.

In addition to the above cancers, grape seed extract has already demonstrated cytotoxicity against breast cancer, colon cancer, glioblastoma, and NSC lung cancer cells in laboratory studies. But the three study results on human populations given above provide a dramatic leap forward for the science backing grape seed extract as an anti-cancer supplement. It is astounding, then, that none of the above studies received much media attention. That will likely require full-blown clinical trials, which will almost certainly be kicked-off as a result of these studies, but will take years to complete. Until then, the latest findings on grape seed extract make a compelling case for its consideration in any program or supplement regimen meant to reduce cancer risk.

Sources:

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?te…

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article…

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21598177

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21803844

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC…

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.

For breaking news and research updates on natural medicine for cancer, see Ethan’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TheEdenPrescription

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/033754_grape_seed_extract_cancer_prevention.html#ixzz2rpOZrWYD

Book Review: Vitamin K-2 and the Calcium Paradox: How a Little-Known Vitamin Could Save Your Life

By Kate Rheaume-Bleue (Collins, 2012)

Reviewed by Rosalind Michahelles

The paradox in the title refers to the fact that – according to the author’s research — dietary calcium, unaccompanied by vitamin K-2 may well end up in soft tissue like blood vessels rather than in bones and teeth. In other words, it may harden your arteries rather than strengthen your bones and your teeth. Apparently vitamin K-2 plays a crucial stimulating role where two proteins are concerned: one is osteocalcin, which pulls calcium into bones; the other is matrix gla protein (MGP) which pulls calcium out of soft tissue. Vitamin K-2 thus provides a twofold benefit.

What about the more famous vitamin K-1, you may be asking. K-1 – philiquinone – comes from plants like leafy green vegetables and is important in the blood clotting function. That is why patients on blood-thinners like warfarin are advised to avoid kale and spinach and such. Some K-2 will be made in the body from K-1 but by far the more important source is dietary. Good sources of K-2, according to the studies the author refers to, are (a) the fat of grass-fed animals, which means goose liver and some cheeses like Gouda and Brie, among other menu items and (b) natto, a Japanese soybean ferment. Natto is hard for most people to like on the first couple of tries. But those in Japan who eat it seem to have the strongest bones.
Vitamins A and D collaborate with K-2 in ways that allow one to pick up the slack when the other one is short. In this “sparing action” (p.201), sufficient vitamin A means less K-2 is needed. Cooperatively, vitamins A and D operate a “switch mechanism,” whereby a small amount of either guards against toxicity from too much of the other (p.203).
One unfortunate scenario has unfolded from taking generous supplements of calcium and vitamin D without the accompaniment of A and K-2. Vitamin D helps draw calcium from the intestines into the blood stream – but then what? Without the other vitamins it can lodge in arterial plaque, increasing the likelihood of heart problems. The coronary artery calcium test is one way to find out if that’s happening. Another potential problem is that kidney stones may form when excess calcium builds up in urine.
How to test for K-2 deficiency? One possibility is to test for inactivated osteocalcin in the blood. It will be in inverse relation to vitamin K-2, as K-2 is the principal activator of osteocalcin. If you do decide to take a supplement, be sure that all three vitamins are coming in, either through diet or pills. Vitamin K-2 comes in two flavors, so to speak. Menaquinone-4, which in nature comes from animals, is synthetic when in supplements. MK-7, on the other hand, comes from natto. The author, who is Canadian, says that MK-4 is less effective such that a larger and more frequent dose is recommended; MK-7 is thus the gold standard.
If you have problems with bones or teeth or arteriosclerosis or varicose veins or kidney stones, this interesting book is worth reading. One lesson I got from it – once again – is that food is our best medicine but when the food supply strays from nature we should look to supplements, but in moderation. Beef used to provide vitamin K-2 because cows ate grass; now that they eat corn and soy, etc., we may well need vitamin K-2 supplements to ward off osteoporosis, tooth decay, and heart disease.
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Rosalind Michahelles is a certified holistic health counselor in Cambridge. For questions about this essay or related issues please call 617-491-3239 or visit www.nutrition-matters.info

Book Review: COULD IT BE B-12? An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses

By Sally M. Pacholok & Jeffrey Stuart

Reviewed by Rosalind Michahelles, Certified Holistic Health Counselor

“Epidemic of Misdiagnoses,” the subtitle of this book, sounds like hyperbole. But to some of those who have been misdiagnosed it may, on the contrary, seem tame, especially if psychotic or demented or paralyzed from nerve damage because the lack of vitamin B-12 was not noticed by their doctors. Similarly, wouldn’t a parent whose aloof and silent toddler is labeled autistic – instead of being cured with B-12 injections — find that subtitle reasonable? So think the authors of this book.

Vitamin B-12 is essential to the human diet because we don’t manufacture it but we need it. B-12 is functionally diverse, playing a significant role in the nervous, cardio-vascular, gastric, immune and mental systems.

Who is at risk for B-12 deficiency? Vegans and those who avoid animal products; people who take pills to suppress stomach acid; people with intestinal or other problems that interfere with B-12 absorption; and people whose dentist has used laughing gas instead of Novocain. There are also some with a genetic anomaly that gives them pernicious anemia, the name of the blood disorder, which results from B-12 deficiency.

Click here to download the full review.