Try Vitamins and Garlic to Lower Gastric Cancer Risk

In a rural region of China where gastric cancer is common, researchers found in a two-decade study that two approaches—antibiotics and vitamin/mineral supplements—protected against it. Both methods, as well as a garlic supplement, significantly reduced death rates of the cancer. Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute researchers enrolled 3,365 residents ages 35 to 64 from 13 villages with symptoms of H. pylori, a gut bacteria linked to increased risk of ulcers and cancer. Two weeks of conventional antibiotics treatment reduced the risk of gastric cancer over a 22 year period, and twice-daily supplements of 250 milligrams (mg) vitamin C, 100 international units vitamin E and 37.5 micrograms selenium taken for seven years also reduced gastric cancer incidence. Garlic in the form of 400 mg. aged garlic extract and one mg. of steam- distilled garlic oil was given to a third group for seven years. All three treatments significantly slashed the gastric cancer fatality rate.