Proper Nutrition, Vitamin A Could Help Delay Mesothelioma Spread

New research and a collection of past studies have found a possible beneficial link between vitamin A and a positive prognosis regarding mesothelioma cancer, a serious and often life-threatening form of cancer resulting from asbestos exposure. The latest evidence seems to suggest that patients with diets rich in vitamin A and other vegetables have a reduced risk of developing the cancer and an increased ability to slow the spread of the cancerous cells.

There have been many studies and much research on the link between proper nutrition and cancer survival. Specifically, there have been at least 4 major studies on the importance of a specific nutrient, vitamin A, and the related survival rate of mesothelioma patients. All of the studies conclude that in patients with higher vitamin A content, the chance of a positive prognosis is increased, enough so to make it statistically significant. A study performed by the National Cancer Institute in 1988 showed that when the dietary choices of mesothelioma patients were compared with healthy individuals, those diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer ate less cruciferous (brassica family) vegetables as well as less vegetables overall. Additionally, the intake of vitamin A was much lower in the cancerous patients.

One study completed in 1996 measured the link between mesothelioma and vitamin A intake. The study found that those with a higher intake of vitamin A, "may decrease the risk of mesothelioma." Another study published in 2002 showed researchers studying mesothelioma cells in a laboratory setting that an oxidized form of vitamin A, known as retinoic acid, could prevent the cancer cells from spreading in the body. This study ultimately made the suggestion that those recently diagnosed with mesothelioma could benefit from increased intake of vitamin A, as it might slow the spread of the cancer. Most recently, an Australian study in 2006 focused on workers exposed to asbestos in the workplace. They found that those patients who had lower levels of vitamin A in their bodies had an increased risk of developing mesothelioma cancer.

Vitamin A is an important nutrient on its own, helping to maintain the immune system, playing an important role in vision, and maintaining normal skin health. It is often found in animal fats and vegetables in the brassica family such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and kale. Vegetables with a deep orange color usually indicate a high presence of beta carotene, a precursor to vitamin A. Some examples would be sweet potatoes and carrots, both very high in vitamin A.

Mesothelioma is a life-threatening and often terminal form of cancer. Many times, exposure is a result of working in an industry which uses asbestos in manufacture or production, such as insulation or automotive industry. Oftentimes, the development of a mesothelioma lawsuit is necessary to reclaim lost wages or pay for expensive medical procedures.