Incidence of cancer is increasing day by day. It is a leading cause of death worldwide. The most prevalent cancers worldwide are breast, lung, colon, rectum and prostate cancers. Our changing lifestyle is equally responsible for the rising trend. One in every six deaths are attributed to cancer.
One third of deaths in cancers are due to tobacco, obesity, alcohol, lack of physical activity and low intake of fruits and vegetables.
In cancers, there is increased free radical formation or reactive oxygen species. These free radicals damage the cell membrane changing the normal configuration of cells to neoplastic or cancerous cells. The antioxidant vitamins play a great role in scavenging these free radicals and reduces the chances of tumour formation.
Vitamin A
The active form of vitamin A is retinol and the plant source are carotenoids. The basic functions of vitamin A are cell differentiation, proliferation and regulates cell death or apoptosis. The RDA or recommended dietary allowance of vitamin A is around 700 micrograms in women and 900 micrograms in men.
The sources of vitamin A are from both non vegetarian and vegetarian sources. The animal sources are liver, Cod liver oil, salmon, , fish oils. The plant sources are also very rich in vitamin A like carrot, sweet potato, turnip green, collard green, mangoes, apricots. Vitamin A plays a very prominent role in fighting breast, pancreatic and skin cancers.
Vitamin A helps in preventing adipocyte differentiation. The active form of vitamin A or All trans retinoic acid(ATRA) deregulates the adipocyte differentiation and decreases the chances of obesity. As we know obesity is home to many cancers like breast, cervix, endometrium ,prostate; decrease in chances of obesity leads to decrease in incidence of these obesity related cancers. All trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has shown a positive effect in reversing squamous metaplasia.
Vitamin C
It is also known as ascorbic acid. The RDA for women is 70mg and for men 90mg. This is one of the vitamin having no side effects in high doses. The main role of vitamin C in cancers that it halts the initiation and progression of neoplastic cells. The anticancer properties of vitamin C was discovered many years before. A Toronto physician William Mc Cormick discovered that vitamin C played a very important role in cancer prevention by increasing collagen synthesis. It also potentiates the action of chemotherapeutic agents.
The rich sources of vitamin C are orange, sweet lemon, amla, tangerines, guava, strawberries and broccoli.
Vitamin C is very effective in bladder, cervical, endometrial, breast, lung, oesophageal and gastric cancers.
Vitamin E
These are known as tocopherol. The RDA of vitamin E is 15mg. It is one of the most potent vitamin with strong antioxidant role. The rich sources are wheat germ oil, sunflower oil, nuts like almond, hazelnuts, pine nuts and peanuts. Vitamin E is very potent in breast, colon cancers.
One Comment