For women only: Cancer fighting breakthrough article by Charles Poliquin

For Women Only: Cancer-Fighting Breakthrough
Why calcium D-glucarate is a key supplement for women
by Charles Poliquin


Although it is now taken for granted that biological differences between women and men require different approaches to supplementation, there is still considerable confusion as to what supplements are specifically beneficial for women, with the exception of iron (thanks to commercial television). Do women need extra iron? Possibly. A zinc supplement? Highly recommended. Fish oil? Absolutely. But those are the easy answers - how about calcium D-glucarate?

For women, I consider calcium D-glucarate as important as fish oil - it is that good! And although the mainstream media has yet to catch on to the significance of calcium D-glucarate, if you're a woman you shouldn't wait to avail yourself of this important compound.
Calcium D-glucarate is the patented form of glucaric acid. It is not an artificially engineered drug but a nontoxic compound present naturally in the body. It is found in fruits such as apples, grapes and grapefruit and in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower. Of course, this begs the question If calcium D-glucarate is found in fruits and vegetables, why would we need to take the supplement form of it? The answer is that it would be difficult to get enough of it from natural sources - honestly, how often do you eat five servings of vegetables a day?
Although glucaric acid has benefits for men, particularly in the prevention of prostrate cancer, I consider calcium D-glucarate an essential part of my women's line of supplements. The compound can play a critical role in total protection against (1) diseases caused by excess estrogen, (2) xenobiotics, which are pollutants or chemicals not produced naturally by the body (an antibiotic is an example of an xenobiotic), and (3) fat-soluble toxins, which are toxic compounds stored in body fat.

There is plenty of solid science to support the effectiveness and, consequently, the endorsement of calcium D-glucarate in the areas of cancer prevention and treatment. Researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston (considered one of the top cancer centers in the United States) have conducted considerable research on the health benefits and healing properties of calcium D-glucarate. Their efforts led to the production of a patented form of the compound that can be used as a dietary supplement.
In animal studies, for example, researchers have seen as much as a 60 percent decrease in development of cancers of the lung, skin, liver, breast and colon; and there is also evidence to suggest that calcium D-glucarate can inhibit the development of bladder cancer. Especially promising are the nearly two dozen studies that suggest that calcium D-glucarate may be useful in the prevention of breast cancer. When you consider that cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States (behind heart disease), such promising research regarding the effects of calcium D-glucarate should be taken seriously by our nation's healthcare system.

The Detoxification Solution

In addition to heredity, factors responsible for cancer include diet, lifestyle and also environmental factors such as exposure to sunlight and radiation. Because the amount of harmful pollutants in our environment continues to increase, it is more important than ever to find effective means of detoxifying our bodies.
One way calcium D-glucarate accomplishes detoxification is by enhancing glucuronidation activity. Glucuronidation is a chemical reaction the body produces to rid itself of harmful toxins and carcinogens; the process makes substances more water soluble so they can be eliminated through urination. Among the carcinogens that glucuronidation removes from the body are fungal toxins, steroid hormones, nitrosamines, aromatic amines, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Calcium D-glucarate also improves the body's natural enzymatic processes of detoxification by inhibiting the effects of a detoxification-reversing enzyme called beta-glucuronidase in the gut. When calcium D-glucarate dissolves in the stomach, it forms D-glucaric acid, from which is derived the potent beta-glucuronidase inhibitor D-glucaro-1,4-lactone. By neutralizing the effects of beta-glucuronidase in the gut-bound estrogens, xenobiotics and fat-soluble toxins do not become reabsorbed into the body, and as such do not stress the system of detoxification and thereby place women at greater risk of cell damage in various tissues such as the breast.
I believe that any woman with high levels of estrogen exposure (incidentally, American women have the highest levels of estrogen in the world) and/or difficulty with consistent bowel elimination should consider supplementation with calcium D-glucarate as protection therapy. Additional amounts of this supplement are of paramount importance for individuals who are exposed to harmful chemicals such as cigarette smoke and for those who according to their medical history are at greater risk for certain types of cancers such as breast cancer and lung cancer.

Clinical trials studying the potential of calcium D-glucarate to prevent cancer are currently being conducted by such respected medical organizations as the National Cancer Institute and the AMC Cancer Research Center in Denver, Colorado. These trials are building upon the extensive research that has been amassed over the years by the medical industry on this valuable compound.

All the research points to calcium D-glucarate as one of the most promising supplements you can have in your cancer-fighting arsenal. If you're a woman who is seriously concerned about countering the harmful effects of the environment on your body and reducing your risk for certain types of cancer, then calcium D-glucarate should be a part of your overall wellness program.