* INOSITOL HEXAPHOSPHATE aka IP-6, NOT SO STRANGE

If I saw INOSITOL HEXAPHOSPHATE as an ingredient I would wonder with concern just what purpose it served and would be hesitant to buy that product. Who reads labels? Simple things like pastries have lists of ingredients that one would expect to see in an auto mechanics shop. If whatever it is that requires twenty strange ingredients and something questionably called “natural flavor” then what is the point of buying it?

There are many ways of getting cancer. Just because some of them haven’t been proven yet doesn’t mean that the addition of them to a food product is “safe”. Following are the notes on one more phytonutrient that has BEEN PROVEN in some way to make it harder for cancer to ruin your day. These notes are “raw” from my research, more detailed discussion of the supporting studies will have to occur at a later date.

–found abundantly in cereals and legumes
–decreases cellular proliferation
–causes the differentiation of malignant cells which can result in a reversion to a normal phenotype: Works in a number of ways: tumor suppressor genes, differentiation genes, cell cycle regulatory genes
–PHYTIC ACID (aka IP-6) and GREEN TEA are synergists.
–is rapidly absorbed through the stomach and upper small intestine
–significantly reduced large intestine cancer in rats even though treatment was begun five months after carcinogenic induction
–activates natural killer cells
–“differentiation” is a word used to describe the “normalization” of cancer cells. Cancer cells display an unspecialized, atypical structure very dissimilar to the tissue that they originated in. Return to specialization indicates that the degree of malignancy or virulence is decreasing.
–IP-6 shown to inhibit growth and induce differentiation in HT-29 cell line of human colon cancer cells.
–IP-6 also strongly inhibited growth and induced differentiation in human prostate cancer cells (PC-3)
in both vivo and vitro studies.
–IP-6 has been effective against every cancer cell type it has been tested against. (Can that be any clearer?)
–cancer was induced in laboratory animals. IP-6 was used either orally, injected at the site of the induced tumor, or injected intraperitoneally. Tumors were 2/3rds smaller under all methods.
–p53 is a tumor suppression gene. It acts on cells undergoing stress, experiencing DNA damage. IP-6 increases the activity of this gene by up to “17 fold”. The activity of IP-6 upon the p53 gene makes it very useful as an adjunct to chemotherapy.
–IP-6 has some side effects: lesser incidences of kidney stones and fatty liver. Also lower cholesterol.
–suggested dosage 1 to 3 grams a day. Powder is available for those who require larger doses.
–thermal processing of soy milk (as common in the industry) did affect the phytonutrient profile, there was increased PHYTIC ACID ….lowered antioxidant activity…compared to “raw” soy milk…yet both processed and raw were able to exhibit antiproliferative activity against HL-60 leukemia cells, AGS gastric tumor cells and DU145 human prostate cancer cells….in a dose dependent manner.
–effective against human PC-3 and C4-2B cells through regulation of the P13K-Akt pathway.
–in a special strain of mice that were subjected to tumor cell implantation (“xenografts”): “2% IP-6 feeding in drinking water inhibited tumor growth by 52% to 59%. IP-6 suppresses cell survival proliferation and angiogenesis (and this is just the “short story” regarding this particular study and the effects, numerous, of IP-6
–study: threatment of PC-3, DU145 and LNCaP prostate cancer cell lines were strongly inhibited by IP-6. It suppressed growth and proliferation. It decreases cell (cancer) viability.
–causes “G(1) cell cycle arrest, and increases cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21/Cip1 and p27/Kip1 protein levels in human prostate cancer DU145 cells”
–study: IP-6 suppresses tumor growth at the neoplastic stage….reducing incidence of adenocarcinoma through antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects
–IP-6 major constituent of most cereals, legumes, nuts, oil seeds and soybeans.
–IP-6 and MYO-INOSITOL are synergistic together regarding inhibition of cell growth…caspase 3 activity increased. Apoptosis was NOT increased by the two together
–IP-6 is the principal storage form of phosphorus in many plant tissues.
–found within the hulls of nuts seeds and grains.
–cooking will reduce PHYTIC ACID to some degree.
–more effective is soaking in an acid medium, lactic acid fermentation, and sprouting
–on the minus side: it has a strong binding capacity with minerals such as calcium magnesium iron and zinc. Binding with IP-6 causes the mineral to become insoluble and inabsorpable in the intestines. This can be a problem in some developing countries.
–one study indicated conversely that IP-6 was associated with a reduction on osteoporosis
–it acts as an acid chelating niacin
–food sources:
sesame seeds flour
brazil nuts
almonds
tofu
linseed
oat meal
pinto beans
soy protein concentrate
soybeans
corn
peanuts
wheat flour
wheat
soy beverage
oats
wheat germ
whole wheat bread
brown rice
chickpeas
lentils
–IP-6 is one of several forms of INOSITOL. Inositol is a type of sugar formed by 6 carbon atoms, 6 oxygen atoms, and 12 hydrogen atoms. This combination can also form glucose, with a different arrangement of the atoms. (this gives me a moment of thought: Glucose (a poison, go ahead argue with me if you dare) and IP-6 found in so many easy at hand foods: Sugary snacks or peanuts? Sugary snacks or hummus? Sugary snacks or a can of mixed nuts? If you are going to consume the calories why the heck not do it in a more healthy manner?!!!!)

As with anything this is only part of the story. Research continues. Knowledge continues to be expanded. But some of us continue to live (figuratively speaking) in the Dark Ages of the abnormal American Diet.
These are very simple choices. It is not rocket science. That mega bag of candy shipped from China, may cost less in the beginning than a can of Virginia Peanuts, but what price do you add for cancer? By the way if you havent tried Virgina Peanuts, if you think all peanuts are the same…you havent lived ..
One more feather ….

slightly tongue in cheek, with a smile
martin

@ FIG: Ficus carica, GO FIGURE!

FIGS were in my mind an unexpected surprise, I didn’t think of it as anything more than a natural package of candy and fiber. It wasn’t! It has some hidden and surprising phytonutrients.

My “raw” research notes appear below, more detailed discussion of the supporting studies will have to follow later.

–of all the common fruits FIGS have the highest concentration of minerals. Ditto polyphenols, RED WINE and TEA are low compared to FIGS.
–FIGS also have BENZALEDHYDE and COUMARINS two other anticancer compounds. BENZALDEHYDE has been used to treat terminal human carcinomas. COUMARINS have been used for skin and prostate cancers.
–FIGS are a member of the MULBERRY family.
–a study at the U of Wisc School of Medicine found a chemical compound called LUPEOL (also found in many fruits STRAWBERRIES MANGOES and FIGS) that may aid in fight against prostate cancer. “Nude” mice were injected with human prostate cancer cells. Mice receiving LUPEOL alone showed a substantial slowing of the cancer process and those that received LUPEOL with a lab produced antibody showed even greater results, Cancer Research Dec 1 2005.
–by dried weight can have 5% COUMARINS
–“these results may indicate a possible preventive effect at the level found naturally in the fruit
–have one of the highest amounts of calcium for any fruit
–contains measurable amounts of oxalates.
–FIG FRUIT LATEX, I tried this once in North Carolina by eating or trying to eat an unripe FIG a very unpleasant experience, contains significant amounts of POLYPHENOLIC compounds..findings in this study indicated potent effect in some cancer lines and little or no effect in others.
–FIG RESIN …showed in vitro inhibitory effects on proliferation of various cancer cell lines.
–FERULIC ACID, QUERCETINS, PSORALEN, and BERGAPTEN found within FIGS
–FIG leaf extracts contained QUERCETIN and LUTEOLIN
–FIGS are a component of the Mediterranean Diet “for millennia”. In a comparison of black red yellow and green FIG varieties the major CYANIDIN was C3R in all varieties. Extracts of darker varieties showed higher contents of phytochemicals than those levels found in the lighter colored varieties. “Fruits of the Mission FIG variety contained the highest levels of polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins, also exhibited the greatest antioxidant activity”
–FIG LATEX has been shown to be effective against warts, this from Iran.
–some studies from as far back as 1952 seemed to be aware that compounds from FIGS could inhibit cancer.
–crude extracts of West Indian Ficus Pumilla were shown to be cytotoxic to the leukemic cell line MT-4
–FIGS are low in calories 100 grams have 74 calories
–antioxidant levels comparable to apples
–chlorogenic acid in FIGS helps lower blood sugar levels
–100 g of dried figs contain 640 mg of potassium, 162 mg of calcium, and 2.03 mg of iron.

There are a number of sweet things that fight cancer. FIGS can be added to the list. Instead of reaching for a bowl of ice cream, milk or soy based, reach for some figs. They will provide phytonutrients that ice cream cant. They will provide vitamins minerals and fibre. They will do more towards improving your health than either you or I ever suspected.

choose carefully
eat well
best wishes

martin