Mesothelioma Vitamins Alternative Treatment

Mesothelioma is a deadly disease caused by working in an industry which uses asbestos in manufacture or production, such as insulation or automotive industry. There is currently no cure for this debilitating malady and a number of studies are being conducted to discover both curative and preventive mesothelioma treatments. In the meantime, efforts are ongoing to identify the role that Vitamins may play in the syndrome.

It is well known that proper nutrition promotes health and well being and a nutritious diet is one that provides all required vitamins and minerals in the proper proportions. The link between proper nutrition and cancer survival has been the subject of many a research project; and the specific nutrient, vitamin A, has been studied for its proposed contribution to the survival rate of mesothelioma patients. The conclusion from all these studies points to the fact that higher intake of vitamin A increases the chances of a positive prognosis and decreases the risk of mesothelioma.

Studies on vitamins & mesothelioma

• According to a study conducted by the National Cancer Institute in 1988, mesothelioma patients had lower intake of vitamin A as they ate less vegetables overall.
• In 1996, a Division of Epidemiology of the American Health Foundation study of 94 persons with malignant mesothelioma and 64 people without cancer found that provitamin A or beta-carotene may decrease the risk of mesothelioma. Provitamin A can be found in fish-liver oils, egg yolk, milk products, green-leaf or yellow vegetables, and fruits.
• In 2002, a study established that an oxidized form of vitamin A called Retinoic Acid could actually prevent the cancer cells from spreading in the body and regular intake could slow the spread of the disease. Retinoic acid impacts mesothelioma growth and spread in the body and vitamin A levels could possibly make mesothelioma metastases unlikely.
• In 2006, an Australian study found that patients with lower levels of vitamin A in their bodies were at risk of developing mesothelioma cancer after workplace exposure.

Vitamin A is found in:

• Animal fats such as liver and whole milk
• Vegetables belonging to the brassica family such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage, watercress, bok choy, turnip greens, kale, and mustard greens
• Carrots and sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A and Beta Carotene, a precursor to vitamin A.

Vitamin A is useful in:

• maintaining the immune system,
• improving vision,
• promoting bone growth, reproduction, cell division, cell differentiation
• maintaining normal skin health
• managing and preventing mesothelioma

It has been found that mesothelioma survivors use vitamin A as part of their healing regimen. Vitamins C and E are also invested with antioxidant powers that destroy free radicals. It is reported that if intake of these vitamins is increased, normal cells are not destroyed in the course of radiation therapy. In addition, the radical fighting capacity of this alternative treatment helps in protecting against the development of mesothelioma.