Can inositol prevent and heal cancer?

by: | October 22, 2016
Can inositol prevent and heal cancer?
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(NaturalHealth365) The number of little-known chemo-protective natural substances that are discovered every day continues to amaze me. These substances have always been “out there,” either in nature or produced in our own bodies. One substance that is both generated by the body’s systems and found in many natural foods is inositol.

In addition to the positive effect this nutrient has on brain neurotransmitters and fat conversion, it has also continued to show promise as a great nutrient for preventing many kinds of cancer, especially lung and colon cancer.

Inositol is a vital nutrient for your body and brain

Inositol is produced in a multiple of ways. It is sometimes categorized as being part of the B vitamin family (B8), because, like the B’s, it is water-soluble and does not stay in the body long once it is produced or consumed. In actuality, inositol is a carbohydrate; many people prefer to put the powder supplement form in smoothies because of its sweet taste and creamy texture. Plus, it does not have any of the negative effects associated with sugar, which is a real plus for those who wish to avoid sucrose.

A healthy body will produce about 4 grams of inositol a day through the kidneys. The most common form, called myo-inositol, can be found in the following foods:

  • citrus fruits
  • melons
  • nuts
  • seeds
  • oats
  • brown rice
  • corn
  • beans
  • chick peas
  • liver
  • lecithin

On a chemical level, myo-inositol is used for the formation of secondary messengers, eukaryotic cells, structural lipids and phosphates. Its main function in the body is to help fats move along through the liver and not accumulate in the body. It is a great converter of nutrients to energy.

Inositol is also important for brain health; it aids in the healthy functioning of brain neurotransmitters and has a calming effect on the mind. It can help with eating disorders, weight loss, promoting sleep, calming anxiety, fighting depression, improving blood circulation and detoxifying the liver. It also helps regulate retinopathy, hair loss and neuropathy caused by diabetes as well as high cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

If you have any of the following symptoms, inositol deficiency may be one of the culprits, according to experts:

  • constipation
  • hair loss
  • high blood cholesterol levels
  • mood swings and irritability
  • skin rashes

Inositol has a long and rich history in lung cancer prevention

The best news about inositol is that studies dating back to the 1970’s indicate it may also be a strong preventative substance for many forms of cancer.

The history of the discovery of Inositol is interestingly and linked to one of the great contributors in the natural treatment of cancer. Dr. Lee Wattenberg, often called the “Father of Chemoprevention,” was also the first to detect inositol’s healing effects on lung cancer.

This was significant because this research on inositol in particular showed how common nutrients, in general, may be used to prevent and in some cases even heal cancer. In the 1970’s when Wattenberg was conducting his research, there was an awareness that nutrition in general plays a factor in cancer prevention. Pinpointing specific natural substances for this goal, however, was still a relatively new concept within the halls of conventional research facilities.

Fact: IP6, or inositol hexaphosphate, helps prevent colon cancer

A few years later, another researcher, Dr. Abdul Kalam Shamsuddin, now at the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine, piggy-backed on Wattenberg’s initial investigations to create a substance called IP6, which is a form of the nutrient called inositol hexaphosphate. Zeroing in on inositol’s (or IP6’s) role as a communications facilitator for molecular and cellular signaling,

Shamsuddin was also able to demonstrate IP6’s effectiveness in the prevention of colon cancer. Other studies have concluded the same thing for both of the cancers mentioned above as well as others:

A recent research focus for discovering what helps tumors survive (and what helps destroy them) is the “phosphatidyl-inositol-3-kinase-AKT pathway.” Substances that inhibit this pathway have shown to reduce inflammatory responses, mediate genetic changes and help curb tumor growth and metastasis. A 2008 study conducted by University of California and the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that inositol is one substance that can help do this.

Inositol can help prevent breast cancer in an indirect way because of its effectiveness in correcting polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in women. In a 2012 report published in the journal Gynecological Endocrinology, researchers cited several studies which have proven that myo-inositol is “capable of restoring spontaneous ovarian activity, and consequently fertility, in most patients with PCOS.” This is significant for breast cancer patients (and anyone at risk for cancer) since PCOS sets a woman up for many other health complications, including obesity and diabetes (PCOS suffers are often insulin resistant as well). Study after study has shown that people with type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop cancer sometime within their lifetime.

The most effective use of inositol to date has been in the prevention of lung cancer for those who smoke cigarettes. In a 2006 report published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, smokers between the ages of 40-70 who had already demonstrated some form of abnormal bronchial cell development (and thus were considered “high risk” for getting lung cancer) were given maximum doses of Inositol (roughly 18 grams per day) for 3 months. After this period, there was a significant reduction in the rate of abnormal bronchial cells in the smokers as well as a reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, compared to the control group.

Inositol is a natural substance found in the body and in nature. As such, there has not been much incentive to pour money into research about its many health benefits. Never the less, some very dedicated doctors and researchers have done enough of their own studies to provide a convincing case.

Inositol appears to not only be vital for brain health and fat absorption but also for the prevention of many forms of cancer and conditions that can lead to cancer. There is currently no “Recommended Daily Allowance” in the U.S. for inositol. However, side effects of “taking too much” have proven to be very mild and said to mostly involve gastro-intestinal upset.

If you are interested in living healthy and preventing cancer, then you may be interested in giving inositol a try for yourself.

About the author: Dr. Veronique Desaulniers (“Dr. V”) is a best-selling author and specialist in Chiropractic, Bio-Energetics, Meridian Stress Analysis, Homeopathy and Digital Thermography. After 30 years in active practice, she decided to “retire” and devote her time to sharing her personal, non-toxic Breast Cancer healing journey with others. Her years of experience and research have culminated in “The 7 Essentials™ “, a step-by-step coaching program that unravels the mystery of healing the body. Her website and personal healing journey have touched the lives of thousands of women around the globe. To get your F.R.E.E. 7-day mini e-course and to receive her weekly inspiring articles on the power of natural medicine – visit: BreastCancerConqueror.com

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inositol

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9169302

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27658890

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2752519

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/221797391_Effects_of_myo-inositol_in_women_with_PCOS_A_systematic_review_of_randomized_controlled_trials

https://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20141216/diabetes-cancer-rates

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18243161

https://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/15/8/1526.abstract

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