Phytochemicals & cancer

Although traditionally cancer has been fought with the usual armamentarium of chemotherapy and high doses of directed radiation, lately there has been more attention devoted to combating cancer through nutritive means. In particular, certain phytochemicals including some vitamins, some minerals and a wide range of other bioactive nutrients have been found useful in the physiological battle against cancer.

The objective of this article is to determine which vitamins, minerals and bioactive nutrients may be useful in combating cancer and to give therapeutic dosages of such when known.

The scientific literature is replete with research documenting the link between certain nutritional protocols and inhibition or protection against the disease of cancer. From the landmark article entitled The Causes of Cancer by Richard Doll and Richard Peto which was first commissioned as a report to the Office of Technology Assessment of the United States Congress to the American Cancer Societys Advisory Committee Guidelines on Diet, Nutrition and Cancer Prevention: Reducing the Risk of Cancer with Health Food Choices and Physical Activity, the nutritional literature continues to provide the necessary link for the clinician to justifiably advise patients regarding proper dietary habits in order reduce the patients risk of cancer.

Although there has been much research regarding the relationship between vitamins, minerals and other bioactive phytonutrients and cancer and protection against cancer, not all of the literature supports a strong and convincing link between the nutrient and cancer protection. This article differentiates the convincing evidence vs. the probable and the possible evidence of the link between the nutrient and its inhibitive effect on cancer.

Certain vitamins, minerals and bioactive phytonutrients can be used as a first line of therapeutic defense against cancer before chemotherapy and radiation treatment is commenced.