Posted on 10/27/2010 12:44:07 PM PDT by decimon
Scientists are calling for more research on the possibility that some supposedly healthful plant-based antioxidants — including those renowned for their apparent ability to prevent cancer — may actually aggravate or even cause cancer in some individuals. Their recommendation follows a study in which two such antioxidants — quercetin and ferulic acid — appeared to aggravate kidney cancer in severely diabetic laboratory rats. The study appears in ACS' bi-weekly Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
Kuan-Chou Chen, Robert Peng, and colleagues note that vegetables, fruits, and other plant-based foods are rich in antioxidants that appear to fight cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and other disorders. Among those antioxidants is quercetin, especially abundant in onions and black tea, and ferulic acid, found in corn, tomatoes, and rice bran. Both also are ingredients in certain herbal remedies and dietary supplements. But questions remain about the safety and effectiveness of some antioxidants, with research suggesting that quercetin could contribute to the development of cancer, the scientists note.
They found that diabetic laboratory rats fed either quercetin or ferulic acid developed more advanced forms of kidney cancer, and concluded the two antioxidants appear to aggravate or possibly cause kidney cancer. "Some researchers believe that quercetin should not be used by healthy people for prevention until it can be shown that quercetin does not itself cause cancer," the report states. "In this study we report that quercetin aggravated, at least, if not directly caused, kidney cancer in rats," it adds, suggesting that health agencies like the U. S. Food and Drug Administration should reevaluate the safety of plant-based antioxidants.
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ARTICLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE "Quercetin and Ferulic Acid Aggravate Renal Carcinoma in Long-Term Diabetic Victims"
DOWNLOAD FULL TEXT ARTICLE http://pubs.acs.org/stoken/presspac/presspac/full/10.1021/jf101580j
CONTACT: Kuan-Chou Chen, Ph.D. Taipei Medical University Shuan-Ho Hospital Taipei, Taiwan Phone: 886-2-27299723 Email: kc.chen416@msa.hinet.net or Robert Peng, Ph.D. Hungkuang University Taichung Hsien, Taiwan 43302 Phone: 886-2-27585767 Cell: 886-953-002-092 Email: ypeng@seed.net.tw
Ping
I think the antioxidants in chocolate are still A-OK...
Chocolate is the Great All-Around Cure-All. I can vouch for that!!!
:o])
Why aren’t we all dead yet?
Two questions:
Am I okay as long as I’m not a diabetic rat?
Do these same scientists believe in climate change?
Well, the way I look at it, you’ll never get out of this world alive, anyway, so where’s the problem?
Once it was nitrates in bacon; then sulfites in wine; and sachharin would kill your rats; now it’s anti-oxidants.
Soy is a hormone, but people eat it with abandon. The only way it’s “good for you” is in soy sauce.
Seems to me...well, I’ll get off my soap box. I eat what I want, when I want.
Patience, patience, we all will be soon enough...
“Scientists?”
I don’t think so.
These clowns have an agenda, and we need to know where their money is coming from.
.
Madam Pomfrey also spoke approvingly of Remus Lupin’s use of chocolate to relieve the effects of a Dementor’s presence on students, commenting that Hogwarts has “finally got a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher who knows his remedies”.
I figure if it’s BAD FOR YOU, you’ll throw it up.
One has to look behind who funds these research projects... you may just find some big prescription drug company names...
I take lots of supplements including antioxidants and firmly believe they have improved my health.
I have a science/health/medical education and a health/medical employment background... Lycopene in my opinion should be taken by every man over age 50 or earlier - for the rest of his life - plus selenium to prevent prostate cancer. Saw Palmetto extract works quite well to reduce enlarged prostate - a plant phytol.
Turmeric (curcumin) has many healthful properties including being an anti-inflammatory... Omega 3 fatty acids in fish oils can be life saving and life extending - especially in heart disease.
Supplements, anti-oxidants and vitamins cost prescription pharmaceutical drug companies a lot of money in sales - therefore natural remedies must be removed from the marketplace.
That’s the way I look at it!
Either that, or it will smell so bad you can’t eat it.
I think you are right.
There does seem to be a lot of scientific studies being released lately saying all the natural remedies are killing you or even worse.
Seven articles up from this one says glucosamine is bad for rats and people.
Pycnogenol was also just recently picked on by some angry scientists.
...two such antioxidants -- quercetin and ferulic acid -- appeared to aggravate kidney cancer in severely diabetic laboratory rats.This is one of those facts that reinforces my gratitude that I am not a rat.
We'll be the judge of that.
Have you been known to whisper into a teacher's ear?
Have you ever used the rear door of a police station?
I kept rats and mice as pets for years and the most lasting impression I came away with of their health and longevity is that the leading cause of cancer is rats is...being a rat.
Sweet, gentle, smart beasties they are, but nature has decreed they’ll only live a short while.
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