Antioxidant cocktail slashes pancreatic cancer risk by up to two thirds

Wednesday, August 08, 2012 by: John Phillip
Tags: antioxidants, pancreatic cancer, risk reduction

(NaturalNews) Pancreatic cancer is a particularly deadly form of the disease that takes the lives of nearly 40,000 people in the US each year. Mortality rates for pancreatic cancer are high (five year survival rate is less than three percent) as the disease is typically not suspected or diagnosed until it has progressed to an advanced stage and metastasized to other major organs. Similar to other cancers, pancreatic cancer develops as a result of dietary digressions after the large exocrine gland fails to meet metabolic demands from a diet high in processed, hormone-infused animal protein, hydrogenated fats and sugar.

Researchers publishing the results of a ground breaking study in the British Medical Journal, GUT found that increasing dietary intake of the antioxidant vitamins C, E, and selenium could help cut the risk of developing pancreatic cancer by up to two thirds. Although the study is observational in nature and can only suggest an association, not a cause-and-effect relationship, researchers believe following a diet with optimal intake of the nutrient trio could prevent eight percent of pancreatic cancer cases.

Dietary antioxidant trio dramatically lowers the risk of developing pancreatic cancer

To conduct the study, researchers tracked the health of more than 23,500 individuals, aged 40 to 74 years who had entered the EPIC study between 1993 and 1997. Participants completed a comprehensive food diary, detailing the types and amount of every food they ate for seven days, as well as the methods they used to prepare it. Dietary nutrient values were calculated using a specially designed computer program.

After 10 years, 49 participants (55 percent of whom were male) had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. By 2010, the number of participants diagnosed with pancreatic cancer increased to 86 (44 percent were men). Due to the extremely high mortality rate associated with this invasive form of cancer, patients averaged a six month survival rate after diagnosis. The nutrient intakes of those diagnosed with the disease were compared with nearly 4,000 healthy people to see if there were any differences.

Researchers found that a weekly intake of selenium in the top 25 percent of consumption roughly halved their risk of developing pancreatic cancer compared with those whose intake was in the bottom 25 percent. Participants with the highest intake of all three nutrients (vitamins C, E, and selenium) were 67 percent less likely to develop pancreatic cancer than those who were in the bottom 25 percent. Dietary antioxidants are the cornerstone of cancer prevention and must be consumed daily from a variety of freshly prepared foods to dramatically limit the risk of pancreatic cancer and other deadly, chronic diseases.

Sources for this article include:

http://gut.bmj.com
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120723193203.htm
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/248152.php
http://www.medpagetoday.com/HematologyOncology/OtherCancers/33889

About the author:
John Phillip is a Certified Nutritional Consultant and Health Researcher and Author who writes regularly on the cutting edge use of diet, lifestyle modifications and targeted supplementation to enhance and improve the quality and length of life. John is the author of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan', a comprehensive EBook explaining how to use Diet, Exercise, Mind and Targeted Supplementation to achieve your weight loss goal. Visit My Optimal Health Resource to continue reading the latest health news updates, and to download your copy of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan'.