Vitamin E Achieves a 61% Reduction in Lung Cancer

Also shows effectiveness in the treatment of other cancers, such as colon cancer and other diseases / health problems

Key Research Finding

61% reduction in lung cancer risk when comparing highest vs. lowest vitamin E intake

Foods Rich in Vitamin E:

Nuts, Seeds, Vegetable Oils

Vitamin E Prevents Lung Cancer - News Media Virtually Silent on Positive Vitamin Research

Reprinted with permission from Orthomolecular Medicine News Service

(OMNS, October 29, 2008) Researchers at the University of Texas Anderson Cancer Center have found that taking more vitamin E substantially reduces lung cancer. Their new study shows that people consuming the highest amounts of vitamin E had the greatest benefit. When they compared persons taking the most vitamin E with those taking the least, there was a 61% reduction in lung cancer risk.

Relevant Facts:

Lung cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer on earth; over 1.3 million people are diagnosed with it each year.

With medical treatment, survival rates are "consistently poor," says Cancer Research UK.

Lung cancer kills nearly 1.2 million per year. It accounts for 12% of all cancers, but results in 18% of all cancer deaths.

Vitamin E Cancer Studies:

Here's more positive vitamin E cancer research that the media "missed."

2002 Colon Cancer Study

A study looked at patients with colon cancer who received a daily dose of 750 mg of vitamin E during a period of 2 weeks.

Results: In 10 of 12 patients, an increase of 10% or more (average, 22%) in the number of T cells producing interleukin 2 was seen after 2 weeks of vitamin E supplementation.

The authors concluded that "dietary vitamin E may be used to improve the immune functions in patients with advanced cancer."

Media Coverage Question: Was it on the news? Did you hear about how high doses of vitamin E help cancer patients' immune systems in only two weeks? Why not?

The good news about how important high quantities of vitamin E are in combating cancer is not arising out of nowhere. A US National Library of Medicine MEDLINE search will bring up over 3,000 studies on the subject, some dating back to 1946.

Historical Timeline

• Early 1950s: Research supported vitamin E against cancer
• Before 1960: Shown to reduce radiation treatment side effects
• High-dose studies consistently showed best results

Current Recommendations

• Independent panel recommends: 200 IU daily
• Current US RDA/DRI: Only 15-20 IU/day
• Time to raise recommendations significantly

Important Note: Vitamin E is not the sure cure for cancer. It is not certain prevention, either. Stopping cigarette smoking is essential. But vitamin E is part of the solution, and we need more of it.

Lack of Coverage by Media

The Media Bias Problem

A sixty-one percent reduction in lung cancer with vitamin E? How could the news media have missed this one?

The news media probably did not miss it: they simply did not report it. They are biased.

Try This Experiment:

Try a "Google" search for any major newspapers using "vitamin E lung cancer." You'll find items alleging vitamin E might increase cancer risk, but little on how vitamin E prevents cancer.

The Numbers Tell the Story:

• 170,000 PR employees manipulating news vs. 130,000 reporters
• 60% of journalists admit advertisers try to change stories
• Overwhelming corporate influence on news reporting

Why This Matters:

Drug companies don't have any drug that can reduce lung cancer risk by 61%. If they did, you would have heard all about it in their advertisements. Positive drug studies get headlines. Positive vitamin studies rarely do.

References & Additional Information

Key Study:

Mahabir S, Schendel K, Dong YQ, Barrera SL, Spitz MR, Forman MR. Dietary alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-tocopherols in lung cancer risk. Int J Cancer. 2008 Sep 1;123(5):1173-80.

Colon Cancer Study:

Malmberg KJ, Lenkei R, Petersson M et al. A short-term dietary supplementation of high doses of vitamin E increases T helper 1 cytokine production in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2002 Jun; 8(6):1772-8.

For More Information:

Many full-text nutrition and vitamin therapy research papers are posted for free access at orthomolecular.org/library/jom

Nutritional Medicine is Orthomolecular Medicine

Orthomolecular medicine uses safe, effective nutritional therapy to fight illness. For more information: orthomolecular.org