In the medical field, many doctors are astonished by the new benefits of Vitamin A. Vitamin A has been observed to have profound effects upon conditions such as macular generation as well as other health condition. Recently, at the University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, researchers have found that Vitamin A strong affects those who suffer with leukemia. During the trial conducted, researches observed that without the assistance of chemotherapy, Vitamin A helped to cure 1/3 of patients with a rare form of leukemia, called acute promyelocytic leukemia.
In order to enhance the vitamin's bioavailability injected vitamin A, which was renamed to be a "biological agent", into the adipose tissue (fat) of these patients. Researchers felt the retinoic acid, was not being absorbed the body so they decide to circumvent the absorption process. According to Dr. Gabriel Lopez-Berestein, M.D., a professor in the Department of Experimental Therapeutics, when the all-trans retinoic acid is placed in a lipid carrier it is not metabolized and stays longer in the tissues. According to various sources, 10 of the 34 participants remained cancer-free after five years of observance. Some of the remaining participants were able to combat the leukemia with the combination of Vitamin A and chemotherapy. These number are pretty amazing provide that patient are able to live long-term, drug free lives. In the overall trial, many of the patients are in remission, though they had to supplement their therapy with chemotherapy.
This type of advancement or finding, is a great tool that physician can work with when treating patients with APL or other applicable leukemias. More people would be willing to seek treatment if they did not have to undergo chemotherapy. Many patients can not tolerate the persistent side effects of the chemotherapy such as hair loss, chronic fatigue, nausea, and vomiting.
Though there is some skeptism about the strength of the results. Many researchers do concur that Vitamin A is potent at helping the body to defeat certain types of cancer.
These type of findings strength the argument about the benefit of alternative medicine. Many believe that there are various organic compounds found in certain natural products that we constantly overlook. It is believe by some that certain natural nurtitional supplements such spirulina, chlorella, and licorice root have anti-cancer properties once consumed.
Source: University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center
(Hmmm.....where could I obtain pure spirullina and chlorella?)
