Curcumin & Vitamin D - interesting research results (from ASH)

Hey Scuba

Thats an interesting read. I recently bought https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00FJ9FNL8/ref=mp_s_a_1_18_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1544220900&sr=8-18&keywords=curcumin

I am yet to take it. I am paranoid it’ll effect my meds Tasigna In a negative way don’t ask me why just super paranoid. I am only 7 months into treatment with my last PCR of 0.7%

Does this Curcumin look ok to you? I realise you’re not a doctor :-) do you have links to the Curcumin, Magnesium and D that you take?

Thanks

Alex

Hi Alex,

The Curcumin you pictured is the same formulation I take (C3 complex w/ bioperine (which is pepper)). It will not affect your Tasigna's effectiveness and may very well enhance it. In early years when my PCR > 0.1% I took upwards of 8 grams per day (split in two doses). Now I take between 2 and 4 grams per day as maintenance. Curcumin's effectiveness is dose dependent. More is better when it comes to this compound, but only up to 8 grams. My own experience is it slows CML significantly. It is not a cure, but adjuvent therapay to go along with TKI. My goal is to strop taking my TKI (sprycel) with expectation that Curcumin (which is a naturally occurring spice) will help keep me PCRU.

It's noteworthy that CML incidence rates in India are less than that in the western world. People from India tend to eat a lot of curry (which contains Turmeric/Curcumin).

I take magneisum taurate: https://www.amazon.com/Cardiovascular-Research-EFM-MGT180X2-Capsules-Mag...

Andy any brand of vitamin D3 which is reputable is fine.

(Regarding Curcumin - I tend to take Curcumin lately more for its anti-inflammation and heart benefits than for my CML. It's great to take it following a night with friends after having a bit too much scotch. It's better than aspirin! My skin looks years younger (no spots - amazing). Curcumin is just a good thing to add to your diet. If I was magically - truly cured of CML - I would still continue to take Curcumin.)

(note: I only drink good scotch)

Denise,

I take 500 mg magnesium taurate per day split in two doses - first thing in the morning (empty stomach) and just before retiring. Full glass of water.

I take 5,000 IU's per day vitamin D3 in summer (with food that has fat like an avocado) and increase my dose to 10,000 IU's one day, 5,000 the next in winter. I find this dose for me keeps me around 70 ng/ml. Everyone is different, you may find you need less or more vitamin D to maintain ideal blood levels. I test my vitamin D blood level twice a year, but will probably decrease that to once a year now that I know my body's response.

You should not take more than 10,000 IU's on any given day.

Also - unless you eat a lot of fermented bacteria rich food - take vitamin K2 at the same time as D3. They work together and help maintain calcium balance in the body. K2 removes calcium from soft tissue (using vitamin D) and vitamin D stores calcium in bone (using vitamin K2). I take 200mcg vitamin K2 (aka menanquinone; MK-7) and I eat Japanese Natto (an acquired taste -use lots of mustard).

I asked Mayo Clinic onc and pharmacology people about Curcumin. I was interested because of osteoarthritis. I am on Sprycel, dasatinib. They strongly advised against it because it does something to the blood. Not good with dasatinib.  Do not take.

I have been reading for months the enthusiastic approval of this supplement. My only advice is to check with your own Onc and pharmacologist.  I cannot advise, only comment on what I was told.  Gitel, who is an old lady.

Hi Scuba ,thank you so much for your information I will get the other supplements you have suggested .Cheers ,Keep well .

Chigi,

I hope your most recent PCR was a "blip" which can happen given PCR's methodology. At 0.1% you are still MMR (major molecular remission). Your next test result will guide you on what to do. If your PCR drops back below 0.1% or even better goes "undetected", you are in a good place. You can continue to remain off drug (all TKI's) and track your PCR monthly. As long as your PCR is at or below 0.1%, you are "o.k.". to continue off drug.

Make sure your vitamin D level is high normal (ideally ~ 60-70 ng/ml) so your immune system is energized. Curcumin should slow down the CML if it is returning. It will buy you time.

Sandy,

I would be cautious in raising vitamin D level much above 80 ng/ml. Research has shown (will post link when I find it again!) that ideal level for vitamin D in the blood for cancer and overall health is between 60-80 ng/ml. Levels above this range as well as below have less an effect. Levels above 100 ng/ml could lead to negative results. Taking vitamin K2 along with D3 as you described is an excellent insurance policy against overdosing.

The amount of vitamin D3 to take to achieve ideal blood levels is unique to each person - some need less, some more. In general, levels above 10,000 IU's per day are not necessary to achieve desired blood levels. But some people may need to take more in order to achieve a proper blood level. The key is vitamin D level in the blood, not ingest dose per se.

Below is an excellent video summarizing why vitamin D is so important to cancer prevention. I will try and find the other reference which shows vitamin D level above 80 gives lower results than between 60-80. Keep in mind - more is not always better. In the case of vitamin D, there is a sweet spot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RA5YOcZWDeY

p.s. An interesting fact - exposure of our skin to noon time summer sun in mid latitudes produces no more than about 10,000 IU's per day vitamin D - max. If nature has evolved to provide and use this amount - might be wise to follow same.

Sandy,

It is so sad to see people suffer needlessly when a simple solution like raising ones vitamin D level can do so much.

I have not had a flu or serious cold in more than six years since raising my vitamin D level. Prior to this, I would get colds and/or flu every year. I have been around sick people sneezing away and .... nothing. My wife is now following my protocol more or less and she is getting fewer colds.

I have eliminated my arthritis which runs in my family after adding Curcumin to the mix.

If there is anything positive to say about developing CML it is that it opened my eyes and mind to overall health and nutrition. I would not have pursued this learning if I had not developed cancer. I had more issues lurking regarding my heart health (family history) that I completely reversed simply by reading, learning and applying what made sense. No more high blood pressure. No more metabolic syndrome (fasting glucose now 75, not 110). No more artery plaques (reduced over 75%). Calcium score reduced to zero. All by changing diet and adding key supplements no longer available in our diet due to over farming the same land.

Vitamin C is one of them - but I just assume everyone knows about vitamin C. Addinig Lysine to vitamin C helps artery walls repair themselves undoing damage cause by metabolism (i.e. sugar). All amazing information (https://ethicalnag.org/2014/02/14/w-gifford-jones-vitamin-c-lysine/).

I find myself more concerned about general heart and arterial health than I do CML. I already know I will never die from CML. Never going to happen. But heart attack? or stroke? That could get us - so that's where I focus. I have a suspicion that many people on this forum who are tackling CML will also end up in better overall health by doing these other things. How ironic that we CML people are probably healthier than the general population! All because we have been 'shocked' to action.

I learn much from everyone on this forum. You had David have done an amazing job. In the spirit of the holiday - thank you.