Maurice Boscorelli
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 30, 2010
- Messages
- 19,322
This one has a lot of relevance to most of us on this board.
Take zinc to prevent cancer, especially prostate and related organ cancers like breast and colon cancer. Low zinc levels have been linked to the development of most cancers and emerging evidence shows that taking zinc can be a prevention as well as a treatment for these cancers. Zinc deficiency is very common and I’ve found that 98 percent of my clients have low zinc!
Zinc is so important because it is a component of over 200 enzymes in the body and is directly involved in cell division meaning it affects protein synthesis. Prostate cells are unique in that they require a high concentration of zinc to work optimally, which is the reason zinc deficiency in men leads to low testosterone and poor reproductive health. Prostate tissues need as much as ten times more zinc than other cells in the body. An adequate zinc level in the prostate protects the cells from damage, inflammation, and cancer development. Also, once the prostate cells are damaged and become cancerous, they lack the ability to accumulate zinc, leading to greater propagation of cancer cells that produce to tumors.
A new study in the Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology tested the effect of a large zinc treatment on prostate cancer in rats. The zinc halted the cancer cell proliferation and helped the rats maintain body weight, which is an indicator of better overall health and homeostasis. Additionally, there was reduced evidence of biomarkers that indicate oxidative stress and inflammation in the prostate from the zinc supplement. Overall enzyme levels were better. In contrast, a placebo group had a rapid increase in cancer cell growth and decrease in body weight. There was also significant evidence of DNA damage and inflammation increased by 50 percent during the study period, indicating a progressively diseased prostate cancer state.
Researcherswrite that zinc is a “promising anti-cancer treatment” and that regular supplementation when men are healthy with no evidence of cancer is the best prevention. They also suggest zinc can prevent related cancers such as ovarian, breast, and colorectal.
Symptoms of low zinc include an altered sense of taste leading to cravings of saltier, sweeter foods, and strangely, fingernail ridging. Take note that symptoms may be present, but because they are so diverse and associated with other health conditions it’s often hard to make the link to zinc deficiency without a test
To test your zinc levels there are a few options. The simplest way to test for zinc is a taste test that works because we know that taste and smell are dependent on there being adequate zinc in the body. To do this test, get zinc sulfate and put about 1-2 teaspoons in a cup and sip it, holding it in the mouth. If it is just like water, you are very zinc deficient. If you taste something slightly metallic, you are moderately zinc deficient. If it tastes disgusting—strongly metallic and unpleasant—your levels are probably adequate. This test is subject to individual taste perception and it is not 100 percent valid, but it is a good place to start.
Other test options are a serum zinc test, but there are factors that can cause inaccuracies such as fluctuations from meals, stress, diurnal variations, and complications from other nutrient deficiencies. A plasma zinc test is another option and it will pick up severe zinc deficiencies, but it won’t indicate a more moderate deficiency. It should not be relied on because even a moderate deficiency will negatively influence male health.
Take away from this study the understanding that zinc is essential for cancer prevention, particularly prostate. Be aware that a high zinc dose appears to be an effective treatment once there is evidence of prostate cancer. Attend to your zinc levels now for the best overall health and longevity.
References:
Banudevi, S., Elumalai, P., et al. Chemoporeventive Effects of Zinc on Prostate Carcinogenesis Induced by N-Methyl-N-Nitrosourea and Testosterone in Adult Male Spargue-Dawley Rats. Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology. 201. 137(4), 677-86.
Gumulec, J., Masarik, M., et al. Molecular Mechanisms of Zinc in Prostate Cancer. Klinical Onkology. 2011. 24(4), 249-255.
Take zinc to prevent cancer, especially prostate and related organ cancers like breast and colon cancer. Low zinc levels have been linked to the development of most cancers and emerging evidence shows that taking zinc can be a prevention as well as a treatment for these cancers. Zinc deficiency is very common and I’ve found that 98 percent of my clients have low zinc!
Zinc is so important because it is a component of over 200 enzymes in the body and is directly involved in cell division meaning it affects protein synthesis. Prostate cells are unique in that they require a high concentration of zinc to work optimally, which is the reason zinc deficiency in men leads to low testosterone and poor reproductive health. Prostate tissues need as much as ten times more zinc than other cells in the body. An adequate zinc level in the prostate protects the cells from damage, inflammation, and cancer development. Also, once the prostate cells are damaged and become cancerous, they lack the ability to accumulate zinc, leading to greater propagation of cancer cells that produce to tumors.
A new study in the Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology tested the effect of a large zinc treatment on prostate cancer in rats. The zinc halted the cancer cell proliferation and helped the rats maintain body weight, which is an indicator of better overall health and homeostasis. Additionally, there was reduced evidence of biomarkers that indicate oxidative stress and inflammation in the prostate from the zinc supplement. Overall enzyme levels were better. In contrast, a placebo group had a rapid increase in cancer cell growth and decrease in body weight. There was also significant evidence of DNA damage and inflammation increased by 50 percent during the study period, indicating a progressively diseased prostate cancer state.
Researcherswrite that zinc is a “promising anti-cancer treatment” and that regular supplementation when men are healthy with no evidence of cancer is the best prevention. They also suggest zinc can prevent related cancers such as ovarian, breast, and colorectal.
Symptoms of low zinc include an altered sense of taste leading to cravings of saltier, sweeter foods, and strangely, fingernail ridging. Take note that symptoms may be present, but because they are so diverse and associated with other health conditions it’s often hard to make the link to zinc deficiency without a test
To test your zinc levels there are a few options. The simplest way to test for zinc is a taste test that works because we know that taste and smell are dependent on there being adequate zinc in the body. To do this test, get zinc sulfate and put about 1-2 teaspoons in a cup and sip it, holding it in the mouth. If it is just like water, you are very zinc deficient. If you taste something slightly metallic, you are moderately zinc deficient. If it tastes disgusting—strongly metallic and unpleasant—your levels are probably adequate. This test is subject to individual taste perception and it is not 100 percent valid, but it is a good place to start.
Other test options are a serum zinc test, but there are factors that can cause inaccuracies such as fluctuations from meals, stress, diurnal variations, and complications from other nutrient deficiencies. A plasma zinc test is another option and it will pick up severe zinc deficiencies, but it won’t indicate a more moderate deficiency. It should not be relied on because even a moderate deficiency will negatively influence male health.
Take away from this study the understanding that zinc is essential for cancer prevention, particularly prostate. Be aware that a high zinc dose appears to be an effective treatment once there is evidence of prostate cancer. Attend to your zinc levels now for the best overall health and longevity.
References:
Banudevi, S., Elumalai, P., et al. Chemoporeventive Effects of Zinc on Prostate Carcinogenesis Induced by N-Methyl-N-Nitrosourea and Testosterone in Adult Male Spargue-Dawley Rats. Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology. 201. 137(4), 677-86.
Gumulec, J., Masarik, M., et al. Molecular Mechanisms of Zinc in Prostate Cancer. Klinical Onkology. 2011. 24(4), 249-255.
