Won’t be deterred from prescribing vitamin and mineral therapies

 

Published January 4, 2003 in the North Island Weekender

 

I am compelled to write yet again on the topic of breast cancer in view of the latest research that has been brought to the attention of the media. This is a very similar story to the “beta-carotene” study that came out in the early 90’s stating that “beta-carotene” worsened patients with lung cancer. What was later discovered was that all the subjects were heavy alcohol drinkers and the beta-carotene used in the study was the synthetic trans form. Months later it was determined that carotenes should be taken in a natural cis form as a “carotene mixture” because the combination of all the carotenoids is more effective than taking only the “beta” form and the natural source is better utilized by the body than is the trans form. Reading and understanding research takes great skill.

In this latest research the media titled the article “Breast cancer study hints at harmful effects of vitamins”. The research article that was published in the journal “Breast Cancer Research and Treatment” printed in the Netherlands, was entitled: “Mega-dose vitamins and minerals in the treatment of non metastatic breast cancer: an historical cohort study”. The researchers were Dr.’s Lesperance, Olivotto, Forde, Zhao, Speers, Foster, Tsao, MacPherson and Hoffer. Most of these are located in Victoria, B.C. Dr. Hoffer suggested the study in the first place as he wanted to evaluate 273 of his breast cancer patients who received his orthomolecular (mega-vitamin/mineral)  program. Of these 273 patients only one third were selected as the others had more advanced breast cancers.  The results of the research were, I quote, “Breast cancer-specific survival and disease-free survival times were not improved for the vitamin/mineral treated group over the controls”. Dr. Hoffer stated that of the 273 patients, most were stage 2,3 and 4 and these patients did much better than the control group. The study group did not run comparisons to his sickest patients and that is where the outcome would have been the clearest. This study does suggest that the earliest cases may not need as many vitamins and minerals but their immune systems should be monitored at regular intervals and at the first sign that the immune system if losing its abiltity to protect, vitamins and minerals should be greatly increased. These are all administered orally and not intravenously. The other limitation of the study was its small size.

One of the research doctors then appeared on TV and stated bluntly that Vitamin C was harmful. This may have resulted in the claims that the media then headlined in the papers, TV and radio.

Most people know that every day on the news, opinions on health issues swing wildly from pro to con and back again. What is so typical of the media is the concept that one research article recently published on a subject can nullify 50 years of research on that same subject. In the practice of medicine, research is important however more and more it is who is funding the research, the methodology and how the numbers are evaluated that counts. Most complementary medicine practitioners (CAM) see in their clinical practices the positive results that orthomolecular medicine has on the outcomes on a wide range of health conditions. Most patients state how much better they feel getting their deficiencies corrected and their immune systems improved.

Of course Dr.Hoffer is calling for more research. I will continue to recommend vitamin and mineral therapies along with immune modulating therapies for all of my breast cancer patients and evaluate as we go along. The one good comment in the article was the research indicating that selenium reduces prostate cancer risk by 60%, so for all you men out there start taking selenium at least, and as for all you women out there be self empowered (BSE) and do your own research. My website has many insights. Also John Bastyr University in Seattle Washington is conducting research on the naturopathic approaches to breast cancer. There are many levels of treatment for cancer and its prevention and if you are nervous about taking vitamins and minerals after this study consider using herbs and foods instead. There are many roads to Rome. Choose the best one for you and carefully analyze the original research paper if you want more of the truth.

 

Dr. Pincott has been practicing naturopathic medicine since 1985 and is currently practicing in Campbell River. She can be reached at (250) 286-3655 or www.DrPincott.com