Niacin shows positive results in cancer research

Niacin Shows Positive Results in Cancer Research

Current research suggests niacin, or vitamin B3, may play a key role in cancer prevention through its activities in cellular repair. Leading scientists involved in niacin nutrition believe the vitamin shows promise in treating and even preventing cancer.

Myron K. Jacobson, Ph.D., and Elaine Jacobson, Ph.D., researchers at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Worth, have demonstrated that cells depleted of niacin develop cancer ten times faster than those having sufficient amounts of the vitamin. Diet is a major risk factor, with both beneficial and detrimental components, and niacin is one of the beneficial components, according to the Jacobson. Although the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for the vitamin is 20 milligrams (mg), the optimal amount of niacin in the diet still is undertermined, they said.

Physicians have been using niacin for more than 50 years to treat arthritis, high cholesterol levels, allergies and some forms of mental illness. But it was not until 1987 when Robert E. Kowalski's best-selling book The 8-week Cholesterol Cure was published that the average layman became interested in the B vitamin. In his book, Kowalski details the importance of niacin in lowering blood cholesterol levels.

Niacin has been used for more than 10 years for the treatment of high cholesterol levels, according to Margo Danke, M.D., The University of Texas Health Science Center, Dalls. "It appears that niacin decreases the synthesis of apo-B containing lipoproteins in the liver," Dr. Denke said. "Niacin, at a dose of 3,000 mg per day (250 times the RDA) can lower triglycerides 40 percent and low-density lipoproteins from 20 to 40 percent, while raising high-density lipoprotein cholesterol 10 to 15 percent. Triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol are thought to be the main culprits in the development of coronary artery disease, while high-density lipoproteins are beneficial to health."

Dr. Denke added that an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that a combination of niacin at an average dose of 4,000 mg daily, and a bile-acid binding resin apparently retarded the progression of hardening of the arteries in 80 patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery.

Over the years, researchers have used the various forms of vitamin B3 -- niacin, niacinamide, nicotinamide and nicotinic acid -- for treating disease. The four forms have similar properties, although niacin and nicotinic acid cause a so-called "niacin flush" in some people. The flush, which is harmless and gradually disappears, simply means that the blood vessels are dilating, or growing larger.

Nathan Berer, M.D., professor of oncology and head of the Ireland Cancer Center at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio said niacin is a promising adjunct to chemotherapy because of its relationship to the tumor necrosis (killing) factor, a relatively new factor that selectively kills cancer cells.

The Coronary Drug Project, conducted between 1966 and 1975, found niacin was more effective in preventing heart disease than the four other lipid-influencing drugs that were used. The study involved 8,341 men ranging in age from 30 to 64.

The beneficial effects of niacin were most apparent after the project was completed. The research team, headed by Paul L. Canner, Ph.D., Maryland Medical Research Institute, Baltimore, did not know whether this was because B3 prevented a nonfatal infarction or reduced the patient's cholesterol level, or both.

Abram Hoffer, M.D., Ph.D., a promiment psychiatrist in private practice in Canada, and his associates reported in 1957 that nicotinic acid and nicotinamide are beneficial in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia.

In Orthomolecular Nutrition, Dr. Hoffer and co-author, Dr. Morton Walker, reported that many patients with schizophrenia respond well to 3 grams of nicotinic acid daily. Those who have been ill for many years may not benefit because they frequently are unable to follow directions, the doctors reported.

"A few patients have low thresholds for nicotinamide and nicotinic acid," Dr. Hoffer added. "Nausea may set in with either. They will require smaller doses of both to achieve an adequate vitamin B3 intake. There is a wide range between patients for the optimum dose, and alteration of dosage may be needed as treatment continues. One of my chronic female patients who is schizophrenic required 30 grams per day for a year. On 24 grams her symptoms came back. For the past seven years, however, a gradually reduced dosage to 3 grams has been adequate."

For cerebral allergy patients, Dr. Hoffer said, nicotinic acid helps control symptoms by depleting the histamine and heparin levels. Histamine is a breakdown product of protein metabolism, while heparin is an anticoagulant. If the allergic foods are removed, the need for nicotinic acid will drop to about 3 grams per day or may disappear entirely.

"There may be indications for using thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, folic acid, pyridoxine and B12 along with niacin for some schizophrenic patients," Dr. Hoffer said. "Patients will remain on the vitamin supplementation program for several months or years, depending upon their response. When the patient is considered well, he is advised to continue with his supplementation for up to five years."

Niacin-rich foods include eggs, lean meats, poultry, liver, fish, nuts, peanut butter, wheat germ, brewer's yeast, soya flour and wholegrain cereals. Because the vitamin is not abundant in fresh fruits and vegetables, dietary supplements, sold in health food stores, may be necessary.

REFERENCES:

[1] Kowalski, Robert E. The 8-Week Cholesterol Cure. New York: Harper and Row, 1987.

[2] Adams, Ruth. The Complete Home Guide to All the Vitamins. Atlanta: Larchmont Books, 1988.

[3] Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Niacin Nutrition, ADA-Ribosylation and Cancer. Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Worth, Texas, June 8, 1987.

[4] Canner, Paul L., Ph.D., et al. "Fifteen Year Mortality in Coronary Drug Project Patients: Long-Term Benefit with Niacin." Journal of the American College of Cardiology, December 1986.

[5] Denke, Margo, M.D. Personal letter. July 15, 1987.

[6] Hoffer, Abram, M.D., Ph.D.,et al. "treatment of Schizophrenia with Nicotinic Acid and Nicotinamide." Journal of Clinical and Experimental Psychopathology, June 1957.

[7] Hoffer, Abram, M.D., Ph.D., and Walker, Morton, D.P.M. Orthomolecular Nutrition. New Canaan, Conn.: Keats Publishing Inc., 1978.

[8] Pfeiffer, Carl C., Ph.D., M.D., and Banks, Jane. Dr. Pfeiffer's Total Nutrition. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1980.

[9] Saifer, Phyllis, M.D. and Zellerbach, Merla. Detox. Los Angeles: Jeremy P. Tarcher, Inc., 1984.

[10] Cohen, L., et al. "Effectiveness of Individualized Long-Term Therapy with Niacin and Probucol in Reduction of Serum Cholesterol." Journal of Family Practitioner. February, 1988.

[11] Cleary, John P., M.D. "Niacin Deficiency Diseases." Medical Tribune, January 7, 1987.

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