Vitamin B-6 puts the brakes on prostate cancer growth

Up On the Roof

Go ahead – shout it from the rooftops. Or better yet, stay off the roof and just forward this e-mail.

Tell your fathers, sons, brothers, husbands, and uncles – prostate cancer survival time may be significantly longer among men who have the highest intake of a vitamin that’s easy to obtain in abundance from a normal diet.

One stands out

Research suggests that B vitamins might have a preventive influence on the development and progression of prostate cancer.

To investigate this link, a team from the Harvard School of Public Health and Sweden’s Karolinska Institute assessed the dietary habits of 525 men with prostate cancer. Survival over a period of 20 years was compared to the intake of four B vitamins (folate, riboflavin, B-6, and B-12) and methionine, an amino acid that plays a key role in regulating folate.

Results showed that men with the highest intake of B-6 were significantly more likely to survive the two decades compared to men with the lowest intake of the vitamin. None of the other nutrients were linked to longer survival time.

Most importantly, men with the best survival records were those who had localized-stage prostate cancer at the outset of the study and also had the highest B-6 intake. In other words, high levels of the vitamin were most effective when the cancer was newly diagnosed and had not yet spread beyond the prostate.

Men who had the highest intake averaged 2.2 to 2.9 mg of B-6 daily. This is about twice the recommended intake.

You can’t go wrong

Writing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the Harvard/ Karolinska team notes that further research is needed before increased B-6 intake can be recommended for men at risk of developing prostate cancer.

Of course, that’s what they have to say until their results are confirmed. But B-6 is already a known cancer fighter. In the e-Alert “Hard Working Healer” (8/13/09), I told you about several trials that have linked B-6 intake with reduced risk of colorectal cancer.

In addition, B-6 has been shown to mollify the way the prostate responds to testosterone – a hormone that prostate cancer feeds on.

And finally, your body puts B-6 to use in activating nearly 120 enzymes and 19 amino acids – all of which are necessary for DNA repair and general good health.

Bananas and chicken breast have particularly high levels of vitamin B6. Red meat, fish, beans, fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens are also good sources.

HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., recommends 100 mg of B-6 daily, along with other B vitamins, of course, and magnesium. Dr. Spreen: “B-6 is definitely more effective in the company of magnesium.”

Talk to your doctor before supplementing with magnesium or vitamin B-6.

Sources:
“One-Carbon Metabolism-Related Nutrients and Prostate Cancer Survival” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 90, No. 3, September 2009, ajcn.org
“Vitamin B6 Tied to Better Prostate Cancer Survival” Amy Norton, Reuters Health, 9/22/09, reutershealth.com