Inositol

Inositol is a vitamin-like substance found in many plants and animals. The existence of Inositol has been known for several decades. Interest in its potential anti-cancer properties emerged in the mid-1980s when Abulkalam Shamsuddin, MD, PhD, a pathologist at the University of Maryland, began to conduct research studies on Inositol in the laboratory. He published a book on the subject in 1998. He and other researchers continue to study the effects of Inositol (IP6).

Animal and laboratory research has found that Inositol may be effective in lowering tumor incidence and slowing tumor growth. It may help to prevent the abnormal signals, that tell a cancer cell to keep growing, from reaching the cell’s nucleus. Some research shows Inositol slows abnormal cell division and may sometimes transform tumor cells into normal cells.

Supporters also claim it effectively prevents kidney stones, high cholesterol, heart disease, and liver disease. In addition to its role in cancer prevention and control of experimental tumor growth, progression and metastasis, Inositol possesses other significant benefits, such as the ability to enhance the immune system, function as a natural antioxidant, prevent calcification and kidney stone formation, lower elevated serum cholesterol, and reduce pathological platelet activity.

In their book Too Good to be True?, Drs. Kim Vanderlinden and Ivana Vucenik describe what is presently known about how Inositol works to help normalize the rate of cell division, normalize cell physiology, enhance Natural Killer (NK) cells, inhibit inflammation, and inhibit angiogenesis. The book also elaborates on other conditions shown to greatly benefit from IP6 including diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Resources
Dr. A.M. Shamsuddin’s review of findings in Nutrition and Cancer vol. 55
Oncology Research, February 2008
Too Good to be True?, Drs. Kim Vanderlinden and Ivana Vucenik
Janus SC, Weurtz B, Ondrey FG. Inositol hexaphosphate and paclitaxel: symbiotic treatment of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. Laryngoscope. 2007;117:1381-1388.
Jenab M, Thompson LU. The influence of phytic acid in wheat bran on early biomarkers of colon carcinogenesis. Carcinogenesis. 1998;19:1087-1092.
Jariwalla RJ. Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) as an anti-neoplastic and lipid-lowering agent. Anticancer Res. 1999;19:3699-3702.