Iron

Iron and Cancer

• Iron and cancer: more ore to be mined. Published 4/18/2013. Both the beneficial and deleterious effects of iron have a role in cancer. For example, iron may accelerate tumour initiation by enhancing the formation of free radicals, as well as function as a nutrient that fosters tumour cell proliferation. The extent to which and the mechanisms by which iron has such roles have been debated for decades. As early as 1940, exposure to iron oxide dust was shown to triple the incidence of pulmonary tumours in mice5; in the 1950s, intramuscular injection of iron–dextran was shown to induce sarcoma in rats6. In the 1990s, it was demonstrated that the growth rate of tumour xenografts could be influenced by levels of dietary iron7,8. Many years and experiments later, a clearer picture linking excess iron and altered iron metabolism to cancer is emerging, based on evidence ranging from epidemiological to molecular (TABLE 1).
• Ibid., TABLE 1. Some cancers in which iron has been implicated are: non-small-cell lung cancer, breast cancer, renal cell carcinoma, hepatocellular cancer, oesophageal, stomach, aerodigestive and gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, haematological cancers (leukaemias, lymphomas and myeloma), melanoma, pancreatic cancer and bladder cancer.
• Ibid. The effect of a clinically driven reduction in body iron stores on cancer risk is the fourth epidemio logical link between iron and cancer. Thus, repeated phlebotomy over approximately 4.5 years in elderly men with peripheral artery diseases reduced the overall cancer risk (hazard ratio (HR) 0.65; P = 0.036) and cancer-specific mortality (HR 0.49; P = 0.009). Although the authors interpreted their results cautiously, this is consistent with other observations of a decreased risk of several cancers (such as liver, lung, colon, stomach and oesophageal cancer) in individuals who frequently donate blood.
• Is iron not a good idea when one has cancer and why? Published 10/4/2013. Duration 3:16.
• The Importance of Iron in Infections and Cancer. See also: Artemisinin: A Cancer Smart Bomb.
• Artemisinin: A Cancer Smart Bomb by Len Saputo, MD. Duration 6:36. Artemisinin is found on Amazon. See also: Artemisinin Part 2: How to Use It. Duration 10:35. Take 200-500 mg a day orally, 4 consecutive days a week. The period of rest is so that the body (i.e. gut) does not build a resistance to absorption.

Notes on Iron

• Excess Iron and Brain Degeneration: The Little-Known Link. Posted March 2012.
• Dr. Mercola Interviews Gerry Koenig on the Dangers of Excess Iron. Duration 25:28. Good information toward the end.
• Risk Associated WIth Iron Supplements. Duration 2:48. Iron is a double-edged sword. If we don't absorb enough, we risk anemia, but if we absorb too much we may increase our risk of cancer, heart disease, and a number of inflammatory conditions. Because the human body has no mechanism to rid itself of excess iron, one should choose plant-based (non-heme) sources over which our body has some control. This is another reason why Plant Protein is Preferable (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/plant...).
• Elevated Iron and Ferritin: Recipe for a Living Hell. Duration 7:59. Why Do Woman Outlive Men? Too much iron and/or ferritin indicates health disaster and might lead to death if not treated...fortunately, there are ways beyond phlebotomy.
• Iron Physiology. Posted 8/25/2014. By Armando Hasudungan. Duration 14:06. Very technical video.
• Risk Associated With Iron Supplements. Posted 7/27/2012. Duration: 2:54. Iron overload favors the production of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, and DNA damage, and may contribute to breast carcinogenesis independently or by potentiating the effects of estradiol, ethanol, and ionizing radiation.
• Is Iron Helping or Slowly Killing You? Posted 6/9/2009. Duration 8:43.
• How to Know If You're at Risk of Iron Overload and What to Do. Posted 3/22/2017. Duration 8:05. Technical discussion of genetic predisposition for iron overload.
• Iron and Gluten, The Toxic Tandem – Thomas E. Levy, MD, JD. Published 1/15/2018. Duration 33:24.
• Iron in Cereal. Posted 12/19/2012.
• Magnetic food: Metal Bits in YOUR Cereal! Yummy!. Posted 5/30/2009.
• Absolute proof that Wheaties contains metal fragments, lifted with magnets. Posted 1/24/2014.
• Iron's Dangers. Article. Iron destroys vitamins, increases free radicals, can have heavy metal qualities when taken in large doses.