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Oncovite
After reading some good things about Oncovite’s possible reduction of tumor recurrence, I bought a couple of bottles on the Internet. But now that I read the label I’m wondering how safe it is.
I notice that the Vitamin A content is 9,000 units per tablet. If I take 4 tablets per day, I’m getting a whopping 36,000 units.
According to the U. of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter, anything over 6,000 units per day may cause bone fractures in people over 50:“Lower levels of vitamin A. The multi should contain no more than 5,000 IU of vitamin A (that’s 100% of the Daily Value), but at least 40% of this should be in the form of beta carotene (the label will say, for instance, “50% as beta carotene” under vitamin A). Getting more than about 6,000 IU of vitamin A itself from food and supplements increases the risk of fractures in people over 50. Beta carotene is safe for your bones, though high doses (more than in a basic multi) may increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers.”
Or do the benefits of new tumor reduction outweigh the risk of the possibility of fractures? Any thoughts on this?
Bob P.
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10 Replies
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I think that backorder issue has been settled. I have been ordering it for about 4 months with no problems.
“I am third.”
-Gayle SayersThey may still be on backorder…the latest batch was recalled as it had an even higher level of Vit A in it. Pat
I asked Dr. Lamm a question re: the Vitamin A levels, and he said (now this is not exact) something to the effect that most (if not all) of the Vitamin C is in the form of beta carotene. Plus, he mentioned the other vitamins in the formula doing something to counter the high levels of Vitamin A. Sorry, the more I read this post, the more I realize I am not giving any definite answer to the question. But, he defended it and it sounded ok to me.
I figure the vitamins won’t hurt me. My urologist is familiar with Dr. Lamm’s work and suggested I take them also, even after reading about Oncovite from this site. So, I will keep taking them.
And a suggestion, have your local pharmacist order them from their wholesaler or from the company. I have had nothing but trouble getting my vitamins from http://www.drugstore.com.
“I am third.”
-Gayle Sayers
Well, Buddy,
I never smoked, always took Vitamins, and still got it!
I think it might be the pool water myself. ::)
Rosemary
Rosemary
Age – 55
T1 G3 – Tumor free 2 yrs 3 months
Dx January 2006
Finally, lets throw the Oncovite away!
Vitamins Don’t Curb Bladder Cancer Risk
ISLAMABAD: A few reports have suggested that certain vitamins protect against bladder cancer. However, new research indicates that the apparent anti-cancer effect disappears after accounting for a person’s smoking history.In the current study, people with high levels of vitamins in their blood had a low risk of bladder cancer. As it turns out, however, these people were also the ones who rarely, if ever, smoked.
Because smoking is a well-known risk factor for bladder cancer, it was probably their lack of smoking, not the high vitamin levels, that protected these people from cancer.
The results, which are published in The Journal of Urology, are based on a study of 9345 men who had blood samples frozen when the study began and then were followed for more than 20 years to determine the rate of bladder cancer.
During the study period, 111 men developed bladder cancer. The stored blood samples from these men and from 111 similar men without cancer were analyzed for several vitamins.
Dr. Abraham M. Y. Nomura, from Kuakini Medical Center in Honolulu, and colleagues found that as blood levels of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein plus zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, and total carotenoids rose, the risk of bladder cancer decreased.
However, after accounting for how much a person smoked, none of the vitamin levels had much of an effect on bladder cancer risk, the team found.
http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=119094
http://www.crch.org/ProfileNomura.htm
Chris A.
Diagnosed T1G3 – 3/01/06
37 yo, Seattle, WA
Sorry,
Yes, the quote was from the Lamm site. I just did a search there on Vitamin A Toxicity.
Good luck,
Ro
Rosemary
Age – 55
T1 G3 – Tumor free 2 yrs 3 months
Dx January 2006
Rosemary,
Thanks for the “leg work” and the web site. Very interesting….I take it that your quote is from his web site so I will check that out.
Maybe a bone scan would be appropriate if one was taking Oncovite for an extended period of time (to check for osteoporosis or osteopenia)?
I’ve never been a smoker so I wouldn’t have to worry about the smoking/beta-carotene problem.
Bob P
I did some leg work for you…
have read from several reputable sources that doses of vitamin-A in excess of 2,500 IUs a day can actually have an oxidizing effect on tissues and result in DNA damage with an increase in lung cancer and antherosclerosis. I am currently talking Oncovite, 2-tablets/2-times/day which give me a daily intake of 36,000 IUs. I assume that this recommendation is based on a benefit vs risk assessment however are there any recommended laboratory tests, blood/urine, etc. that I should be doing on an ongoing basis to monitor any potential risks?
Vitamin C can at times have an oxidizing effect, and it is true that two studies have found that smokers taking very high doses of beta carotene/vitamin A had an increased incidence of lung cancer. Concern has been raised about vitamin E as well. With this background, I think our use of multiple antioxidants is extremely fortuitous. Our 40% reduction in bladder tumor recurrence, with no increase in the incidence of other tumors, is quite remarkable. We believe that a balanced approach is the way to go — the thought is that one single agent can throw off this balance and even be counterproductive. This speaks also to the importance of fruits and vegetables in the diet–there are a lot of phytochemicals that are beneficial besides the vitamins they provide.
High doses of vitamin A can, rarely in our experience, cause liver function abnormality. The toxicity of A is reduced by vitamin E. Periodic liver function tests, say once a year, are very appropriate.
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Rosemary
Age – 55
T1 G3 – Tumor free 2 yrs 3 months
Dx January 2006
http://www.bcgoncology.com/drlamm/askdr20050920.html
:-X
Rosemary
Age – 55
T1 G3 – Tumor free 2 yrs 3 months
Dx January 2006
Bob,
I just got a 2nd reply to a question that I posed to Dr. Lamm at his website. (See my thread about Dr. Lamm in Superficial Bladder Cancer) He is very kind to take the time to reply to my questions, as he does for many suffering from bladder cancer.
As it was he who developed the Oncovite, I wonder if you have taken a search of FAQ’s at his web site ?
I bet this question has been posed to him before.If not, you might write to him.
It is incredible to me, that with all his research and work and as busy as he must be, that he takes the personal time to reply to questions.
I’ll be back in a minute with that web site.
Rosemary
Rosemary
Age – 55
T1 G3 – Tumor free 2 yrs 3 months
Dx January 2006Sign In to reply.
