View the entire Leukemia Wellness Plan
Green Tea Extract
- Catechins, antioxidants found in green tea, particularly EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate), are known to have many anti-tumor affects. In human adult T-cell leukemia cells, ECGC reduced cancer cell proliferation.[25] In animal studies of leukemia cells, a similar mechanism of tumor cell death was found.[26]
- Suggested dose: 1g EGCG and mixed catechins.
Olive Leaf Extract
- Olive leaf contains the antioxidants oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol, which are believed to have anti-cancer affects. Olive leaf extracts induced apoptosis (programmed cell death) as well as induction of differentiation (moving them toward a more normal phenotype) of human leukemia cells.[23],[24]
- Suggested dose: 250 to 500 mg of a standardized extract, 1-3 times per day.
Pycnogenol
- Grape seed extract used on leukemia cell lines decreased uncontrolled cell proliferation and survival and increase cell death in leukemia cells.[14],[15] Other studies indicate that the antioxidant in grape seeds called proanthocyanidins are likely to induce monocytic differentiation in leukemia cells (which prevents proliferation).[16],[17]
- Suggested dose: 500 mg of a 90% OPC extract.
Vitamin D
- Human trials have shown that low levels of vitamin D are related to a higher risk of developing leukemia and also with a worsening prognosis following a diagnosis of AML.[11] Increased vitamin D level was associated with higher survival rate in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia.[12] Individuals with a history of lymphoma should also monitor 1,25 dihydroxy-vitamin D levels, as rapid conversion to this active form has been observed in patients with lymphoma.
- Suggested dose is that sufficient to raise vitamin D blood levels to >40 ng/mL, which may require 5000 IU per day or more.[13]
