Nutritional Steps to Maintain Health and Reduce Cancer Risk

At the 2017 Linus Pauling meeting, it was announced that based on metabolomic analysis, vitamin K at levels far above the daily value activates a variety of enzymes that are beneficial. The enzymes have been shown to remove calcium where it harms our health, deposit it where it benefits bone, may reduce hip fractures, and decrease calcification of the circulatory system, reducing by 50% the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. Linus Pauling demonstrated that vitamin C can kill cancer cells. One form of vitamin K regenerates vitamin C so that it is even more effective at killing cancer cells. I previously reported a trial that determined an oral dosage of vitamin C that produces a concentration in the bladder able to kill recurring non-invasive muscle carcinoma cells. Nature in 1999 published an article on foods that reduce the risk of cancer. Since then there is additional evidence that nutrients can extend the human healthspan. Other nutrients are effective at reducing the risk of cancer, such as the active ingredient in cruciferous vegetables. These nutrients that reduce the risk of cancer and improve health are GRAS. They are safe and likely to substantially reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, hip fractures, and other undesirable conditions. While research on treating cancer dominates media attention, pharmaceutical development, and Federal funding, it is likely that people can prevent cancer by consuming nutrients that have been shown to kill human cancer cells.

A Review of Nutrients to Extend Healthspan and Avoid Cancer by Reducing the Amount of Protein Misfolding, Free Radicals, and Calcification

Two major causes of human aging include protein misfolding and free radicals. Protein misfolding occurs when proteins which are synthesized by cells do not have the proper amino acid sequence or do not achieve the correct three-dimensional configuration to function properly. Peer-reviewed scientific literature explains how these processes contribute to many age-associated diseases. A few examples include cancer, heart disease, dementias including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, and arthritis. This article reviews how protein misfolding can be slowed and even reversed by appropriate nutrition, potentially slowing and reversing these diseases. One cause of misfolding is mRNA translation occurring too rapidly for proper chaperone binding or protein folding. A second cause is deficiency of amino acids so improper tRNA binding occurs. A third cause is free radicals. They cause mutations promoting misfolding and cancer, and oxidize lipoproteins causing plaque in circulation promoting heart disease and stroke. Nutrients with proven actions will contribute to longer healthspans for our aging population. Healthspan is the number of healthy years before chronic or terminal diseases substantially impair the quality of life. This can be done especially by slowing and reversing these three causes of PM. Niacin, quercetin, EGCG, alpha-lipoic acid, N-acetyl-carnitine, tyrosine and cysteine address protein misfolding. Vitamin C and glutathione trap free radicals. Vitamin K amplifies free radical cancer killing by vitamin C and activates decalcification enzymes which remove calcium deposits in the circulatory system and strengthen bones. Apigenin activates the pathway of caloric restriction and induces cancer cell apoptosis. This article provides citations and explanations of the progress showing new ways to maintain health as we age. For convenience and cost savings, many of these ingredients can be consumed in supplement form, taken twice a day to maintain water-soluble nutrient levels.