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Integrative Medicine

Enhancing an anti-cancer strategy with natural compounds

  1. Increase immune response
  2. Inhibit angiogenesis
  3. Inhibit metastasis and invasion
  4. Inhibit abnormal gene expression
  5. Induce differentiation and apoptosis
  6. Controlling inflammation

Integrative Medicine

- Controlling Inflammation

Controlling inflammation is essential to successfully control cancer. Tumors rely on inflammatory chemicals for growth and metastasis. Controlling inflammation can help slow tumor growth, reduce pain, impede angiogenesis and inhibit metastasis.

The first step in controlling inflammation is to modify your diet, specifically your fat intake. Generally there are 3 types of fat, omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9. Omega-3 is what you need to concentrate on consuming. Omega-6 needs to be avoided.

Omega-3 fats are metabolized to form anti-inflammatory chemicals (flax, fish)

Omega-6 fats are metabolized to form inflammatory chemicals (dairy, meat, nuts, common vegetable oils - corn, safflower, sunflower)

Omega 9 fats do not form inflammatory chemicals. They can be considered neutral (olive oil).

The following diagram is not as daunting as it appears. It is simply a depiction of the metabolism of both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and the resulting inflammatory chemicals that are produced. The major point of the diagram is that to obtain the benefits of anti-inflammatory chemicals, omega-6 fatty acid intake should be strictly reduced omega-3 fatty intake should be increased. Omega-3 and Omega-6 compete once they are in the body, and the one that is in higher concentration will be preferentially metabolized over the other. Therefore, to receive the full benefit of omega-3 fatty acids it is very important to reduce as much as possible the intake of omega-6's, this will "steer" your body to adopt a more anti-inflammatory fatty acid metabolism. The diagram helps to visualize the processes that occur when fatty acids are consumed. Also note in the diagram under the Omega-3 fatty acids that flax seed oil (ALA) must go through a series of enzyme steps before it is metabolized to EPA and DHA. Clearly fish oil is a superior source of omega-3's since it is already in an active form upon ingestion.

Fish oil vs. Flax Oil as a source of Omeg-3 fatty acids

Fish oil is the best source of omega-3 fatty acids including DHA and EPA. Flax oil is an acceptable source, but needs to be processed through a series of enzymes and the result is that only about 5-10% of the oil consumed is actually metabolized to ant-inflammatory chemicals as seen in the diagram above. Note that fish oil enters enters metabolism as EPA and DHA and is converted immediately to anti-inflammatory chemicals.

Dr. Johanna Budwig, a German biochemist and Nobel Award Nominee discovered that patients benefited extremely well from flax oil that was blended with cottage cheese. This is because the sulfur and protein in the cottage cheese allows the fat to become more soluble and enter the blood more readily. This rationale may also be extended to other dairy sources of protein such as whey, yogurt etc. Dr. Budwig used a ratio of approximately 2tbs of flax oil to 1/4c cottage cheese. It is interesting to note that as of 2001 Duke University completed a pilot study showing that ground flaxseed consumed for as little as 34 days by men with prostate cancer awaiting a prostatectomy experienced significantly increased tumor cell apoptosis. Even the researchers were surprised by the results of such a short term study.

The bottom line: flax oil should be added to smoothies, shakes, yogurt, and especially salad dressing. Flax oil should never be cooked since it is highly unstable at high heat and can turn rancid, which is part of the reason it needs to be refrigerated. Ground flax seeds are a good source of fiber and lignans as well as omega-3's. Whole flax seeds are poorly digested.

Specific Products to Target Inflammation

Fish Oil -molecularly distilled and tested for contaminants, standardized to contain a specific amount of DHA and EPA. The dosage of fish oil is not so clear. At doses over 6,000mg fish oil can thin the blood, which may be hazardous to those taking blood-thinning medications, and those getting ready for surgery. The blood thinning effects of fish oil may not be detrimental in most cases, especially since research is beginning to surface revealing that metastases may actually use blood platelets to mobilize and spread. So thinner blood may have anti-metastatic effects. An important consideration when using fish oil is the amount of other fatty acids in the diet. Omega-6 fatty acids do affect the uptake and metabolism of Omega-3 fatty acids and since Omega-6 fatty acids compete with omega-3 for uptake, the most effective omega-3 strategy involves reducing dietary omega-6's. An ideal omega-3 to omega-6 dietary ratio would be approximately 1:2 or 1:4. An example of a 1:2 ratio would be an approximate combined dose of fish and flax oil equaling 15 grams, and daily intake of omega-6 fatty acids equaling 30 grams. Keep in mind that omega-9 fatty acids such as those found in olive do not affect this ratio. Ideally a target range for an effective dose of fish oil would be anywhere from 3,000-6,000 mg of Omega-3 delivering approximately 3,000- 4,000 mg of EPA and DHA. Nordic naturals makes the most concentrated fish oil supplement available, it is called ProOmega, 1tsp delivers 1,750mg of EPA and 1,250mg DHA. Another excellent brand is Carlson. Check for freshness and purity.

Curcumin -standardized to 95% curcuminoids Several studies report that curcumin inhibits proliferation in a number cancer cell lines. Research has also revealed that curcumin could reduce angiogenesis, as well as reduce side effects from chemotherapy (doxorubicin), as well as potentiate the effects of cisplatin. Curcumin is most effective at blocking inflammation specifically the COX-2 enzyme. Avoid during cytoxan chemotherapy, and contraindicated for those with gallstones.

Enzymes - Pancreatic enzymes (Wobenzyme) and Bromelain both anti-inflammatory if taken on empty stomach. Also stimulates the cytotoxic capability of immune cells. Excellent concomitant use with chemotherapy, can potentiate cytotoxicity of chemotherapy as well as reduce side effects to some degree.

Take during the night or between meals whenever stomach is empty. Take as many as can be tolerated per dose, for wobenzyme typically 6-12. Dr. Kelley pioneered the use of pancreatic enzymes when he cured himself of pancreatic cancer by taking large doses of enzymes as well as other supplements. Dr. Kelley's program has been modified and is practiced by Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez , MD, and Linda Issacs, MD in NY city. Their protocol calls for large doses of pancreatic enzymes, nutritional supplements, glandular supplements, organic food diet, enemas and detoxification. Their results have been very promising.

Herbal Combinations - Zyflammend, uses a combination of herbs to synergistically work together to block inflammation. Another combination is called BCQ, (bromelain, boswellia, curcumin, quecetin). Note each of the substance could be taken individually at the same time to achieve the desired effect, however this may be less convenient.