The Pharmacist's Letter reports that nutritional supplements may help to prevent a variety of cancers. Taos Pharmacy is happy to pass on this latest information as a service to our community.

Calcium supplements may reduce the risk of colon cancer. People taking calcium seem to have a lower risk of recurrent adenomas—polyps that often precede colon cancer. Calcium may bind bile acids and other carcinogens in the intestine. Persons with a history of polyps or a family history of colon cancer may want to take 1,200 mg of calcium per day for prevention. In Western countries, colon cancer is the second leading cause of death due to cancer. Patients should also screen themselves regularly for colon cancer. Here are the American Cancer Society Guidelines:

Patients with a strong family history or a personal history of cancer, polyps, or chronic inflammatory bowel disease should undergo screening at a younger age and/or more often. Patients should watch for warning signs such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool that persists. Other symptoms include an unrelieved feeling of a need for a bowel movement, rectal bleeding, cramping or steady pain, decreased appetite, weakness and fatigue, or jaundice.

In addition to calcium, folic acid can substantially reduce the risk of colon cancer. This information comes from a large study that shows a 75% lower risk in women that take vitamins containing 400 mcg/day of folic acid. Interestingly, synthetic folic acid is better absorbed than naturally occurring folates in food. Patients should not take more than 1 mg/day, as this may mask a serious form of anemia.

Indications are that selenium lowers the risk of prostate cancer by about 67%. Selenium is a trace mineral and antioxidant. Selenium is found in meat, fish, whole grains, dairy products and vegetables. The dose to lower the risk of prostate cancer is roughly twice the RDA or 150 to 200 mcg/day. Vitamin E also seems to lower the risk of prostate cancer. Men taking 50 IU of vitamin E per day were about 33% less likely to develop prostate cancer. Vitamin E comes from vegetable oils, nuts and whole grains. A normal diet provides about 17 IU/day. People on warfarin may need to check their INR more frequently when taking vitamin E, as it can increase the risk of bleeding.

TAOS PHARMACY LEADS THE WAY IN DISEASE PREVENTION IN TAOS. WE ARE INTRODUCING "SENSIBILITY" A BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION AID. EARLY DETECTION IS THE BEST DEFENSE AGAINST BREAST CANCER. BRING IN THIS COLUMN TO RECEIVE 10% OFF THE PURCHASE OF SENSIBILITY.

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