Can Vitamin A intake prevent cancer?
A
new study suggests that Vitamin A intake could help treat several forms of
cancer thanks to the vitamin’s ability to control the malignant cells. This
discovery could change the very nature of cancer treatments. Experts at the
University of York found that cancer cells are under control of a derivative of
the vitamin, known as retinoic acid, the ‘Daily Express’ reported.
They
believe that vitamin A can be used as new anti-cancer treatment and advised
people to ensure they include adequate levels of the nutrient in their diets. The
study was carried out on prostate cancer cells but Professor Norman Maitland of
Yorkshire Cancer Research believes the treatment could apply to other cancers
as well. “This may apply to a number of other cancers,” said Maitland.
Maitland,
however, warned people not to rush out to buy vitamin A supplements, which
could be toxic and even cancerous in high doses. Instead he advised people to
take vitamin A in their daily diet, including oily fish, carrots, liver, red
pepper and dark leafy vegetables.
“We
hope vitamin A will be used to prevent prostate cancer and we also believe that
a derivative of vitamin A could help destroy prostate cancer cells or make them
more treatable once they have started to spread. Clinical trials based on this
research could herald a new dawn in treatment for prostate cancer patients,” he
said. He said that retinoic acid is already used to treat a blood cancer and
has been extremely successful in improving survival rates to 80 per cent.
“It
has been known for years that low vitamin A in samples of blood is associated
with prostate cancer, but nobody knew the mechanisms involved. We have for the
first time revealed a biological link,” Maitland said.
The
study was published in the journal ‘Nucleic Acids’
Source: http://health.india.com
10.09.2012
Marriage, a new miracle cure for cancer
Similar benefit has been seen in other cancers, including those of the prostate, and head and neck, the independent reported.
A study of 168 patients with advanced lung cancer who were treated with chemotherapy and radiation over a decade from 2000 to 2010 found a third of those who were married were still alive after three years compared with 10 per cent of those who were single.
Previous research has shown marriage benefits men more than women, but among these survivors it was women who fared best. Almost half (46 per cent) lived for at least three years if they were married, compared with just 3 per cent of single men.
Cancer patients need support with daily activities, with proper follow up care and help travelling to and from hospital for appointments.
The researchers from the University of Maryland said this was the likely explanation of why married patients did better.
"Marital status appears to be an important independent predictor of survival in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer. The reason for this is unclear, but our findings suggest the importance of social support in managing and treating our lung cancer patients," the paper quoted Elizabeth Nichols, a radiation oncology who led the study, as saying.
"We believe that better supportive care and support mechanisms for cancer patients can have a greater impact on increasing survival than many new cancer therapy techniques.
"Not only do we need to continue to focus on finding new drugs and cancer therapies, but also on ways to better support our cancer patients," she added.
The researchers presented their findings at the 2012 Symposium on Thoracic Oncology in Chicago.
Source:
www.timesofindia.com
10.09.2012
An error doesn't
become a mistake until you refuse to correct it
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