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Health See other Health Articles Title: Bitter Melon and Cancer Healthy Fellow September 28, 2011 Written by JP According to an alarming report in the September issue of the journal Lancet Oncology, the number of new cases of cancer worldwide is expected to reach 27,000,000/year by the year 2030. The authors of the paper call for a comprehensive effort to better manage cost and human suffering by emphasizing “real value from new technologies”. One of the “new” technologies that’s being examined is the use of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) in prevalent malignancies such as prostate cancer. In June of 2010, a scientific review described this tart, functional food as having “anti-tumor activity” and “no-to-low side effects in animals, as well as in humans”. Later in 2010 and onward into 2011, preliminary evidence emerged showing that bitter melon extract (BME) successfully interfered with prostate cancer progression in animal models and in vitro. But, why get so excited about a handful of trials that weren’t even conducted in humans? The reason for my optimism stems from seemingly unrelated studies that have explored the potential of bitter melon in managing diabetes in animals and humans alike. For instance, a publication appearing in the March 2011 issue of the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that a daily dosage of 2,000 mg of BME effectively lowered blood sugar and fructosamine levels in a group of type 2 diabetics. Meanwhile, a study from August 2011 involving diabetic rats likewise discovered that BME “powerfully lowered (blood) glucose levels”. In fact, the excitement surrounding bitter melon is so great that nutritional experts are desperately trying to find ways to make it more palatable in order to promote greater consumption in the population at large. Here’s hoping they succeed in their objective and that more research continues to be published supporting the use of bitter melon in the fight against cancer and beyond. To learn more about the studies referenced in today’s column, please click on the following links: Study 1 – Bitter Melon: Antagonist to Cancer (link) Study 2 - Bitter Melon Extract Impairs Prostate Cancer Cell Cycle Progression … (link) Study 3 - Induction of G1 Arrest and Apoptosis in Androgen-Dependent Human … (link) Study 4 - Momordica Charantia Leaf Extract Suppresses Rat Prostate Cancer … (link) Study 5 - Bitter Melon Extracts in Diabetic and Normal Rats Favorably Influence … (link) Study 6 - Hypoglycemic Effect of Bitter Melon Compared with Metformin … (link) Study 7 - Strategies to Improve Palatability and Increase Consumption Intentions … (link) How Bitter Melon Extract (BME) Interferes w/ Cancer Progression Source: Cancer Res. 2010 Mar 1;70(5):1925-31. (link) Bookmark and Share Related Posts: Herbs and Prostate Cancer Ginger, Green Tea and Cancer Beating Prostate Cancer Naturally Preventing Colorectal Cancer Naturally? Walnuts and Prostate Cancer Mushrooms and Cancer White Tea, Skin Aging, Prostate & Breast Cancer Updates Coffee and Cance Sai Says: September 29th, 2011 Dear JP Great Info once again! We all know the effects of bitter melon on diabetes, but this is a very good information. So you think a bitter melon juice would be good way to add it daily? Sai JP Says: September 29th, 2011 Thank you, Sai! I think (fresh) bitter melon juice would be a fine way to consume it. Normally I don’t recommend juicing because of the high sugar content of the resulting fiber-free juice. However, in this case, bitter melon is naturally very low in sugar and likely instigates some degree of a hypoglycemic response. If I were to consume bitter melon juice daily, I would check to see what it did to my blood glucose levels. I would also start off with a relatively modest (1/2 to 1 melon) serving to determine how it affected me. Poster Comment: Bitter melon was recommended by george Noory to a caller. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
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