Vitamin K precursor destroys cancer cells in new scientific discovery
According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men in the United States, with only lung cancer being more deadly.
Approximately 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lives.
In most cases, it is curable, but there are situations in which all known therapies are ineffective and the disease progresses.
However, a new study in mice reveals that a vitamin K precursor can potentially slow the growth of prostate cancer.
Groundbreaking Study on the Link Between Vitamin K and Cancer
A study conducted at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory offers new hope for tackling prostate cancer.
Professor Lloyd Trotman and his team found that the pro-oxidant supplement menadione (a form of vitamin K) reduced the development of prostate cancer in mice.
Menadione is found in leafy green vegetables and is a precursor to vitamin K. While this study is new, it was inspired by another study conducted at the beginning of the 21st century.
Vitamin E studies
In 2001, the National Cancer Institute conducted a trial to determine whether the antioxidant vitamin E could treat or prevent the development of prostate cancer.
The study, which was supposed to last 12 years and cover 35,000 men, was discontinued after just three years.
It turns out that vitamin E intake not only does not slow down or prevent the disease, but even increases the number of diagnosed cases.
The new study with mice
After Professor Trotman analyzed the results of the vitamin E study, he wondered if a pro-oxidant (the opposite of an antioxidant) would give better results.
His new study with mice confirms this hypothesis.
When mice with prostate cancer were given menadione, it destroyed the mechanisms that keep cancer cells alive.
Scientists found that menadione destroys prostate cancer cells by eliminating the lipid PI(3)P.
Hope for successful results in humans
Professor Trotman’s team hopes that the positive results will also be confirmed in human clinical trials. According to Trotman:
“Our target group is men who have had a biopsy and have been diagnosed with an early stage of the disease.
We wonder if if if they start taking this supplement, we will be able to slow down the progression of the disease.”
An unexpected advantage of menadione is that it also shows effectiveness against myotubular myopathy, a rare disease that inhibits muscle growth in babies.
Children diagnosed with this disease rarely live to infancy.
The scientists found that using menadione to reduce PI(3)P doubled the lifespan of mice suffering from myotubular myopathy.
Conclusion: Vitamin K and Prostate Cancer Prevention
While the results of the studies with mice are encouraging, it remains to be seen whether they will be confirmed in humans.
If this happens, the discovery could change the lives of millions of men diagnosed with prostate cancer each year.
This would mean a better quality of life and new hope for people suffering from this insidious disease.
So far, the precursor of vitamin K has shown promising results and gives hope for a healthier future.Follow our Facebook group for mutual help – We HELP everyone with tried and tested folk recipes here –
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