-IBIS-1.5.0-
tx
reproductive system
cervical dysplasia
nutrition

dietary guidelines

eating principles:
• Anti-estrogenic, vegan diet
• Fresh, whole food diet
• High fiber
Cut back on fats, especially of animal origin
Cut back on consumption of aggravating food sources: fried eggs, deep fat fried foods, beef jerky, etc.


therapeutic foods:
• citrus peel
• liver-cleansing foods: beets, carrots, artichokes, lemons, parsnips, dandelion greens, watercress, burdock root
• foods rich in Magnesium, folate, carotenoids, Vitamins A and C
» for Stagnant Liver Qi or Stagnancy in the Liver channel:
• foods that invigorate the Qi, Liver foods, sour foods, Dispersing foods, foods that open channels

fresh juices:
• carrot (Walker, p. 146)
• carrot and spinach (Walker, p. 146)
• carrot, beet, and cucumber (Walker, p. 146)
• lemon juice in warm water (Shefi)

avoid:
Stop smoking and oral contraceptives (Basu & Jayasri, et al. Cancer Detection and Prevention 15(3): 165-69, 1991)
Estrogenic foods: animal products, apples, cherries, olives, plums, carrots, yams, nightshade family, peanuts, soy products, coconut, brown rice, barley, oats, wheat
• Foods that contain estrogen-like sterols (see materia medica)
• Meat, alcohol, hot sauces, spicy foods, fried foods, fatty foods, rich foods, salty foods
• Trans-fatty acids, hydrogenated oils (margarine, vegetable shortenings, imitation butter spreads, most commercial peanut butters) oxidized fats (deep fried foods, fast food, ghee, barbequed meats) (Marz)


supplements

Folate: 10 mg per day for 3 months, then cut to 2.5 mg per day Cervical cytological abnormalities related to folate deficiency precede hematological abnormalities by many weeks. Folate is the most common deficiency in the world, and is quite common in women who are pregnant or taking BCPs. It is probable that many abnormal cytological smears reflect folate deficiency rather than being true dysplasia. (Butterworth, C., et al. Am. J. Clin. Nut. 35:73-82, 1982; Whitehead, N., et al. JAMA 226:1421-4, 1973)
Note: It was found that serum levels of folate were normal in women with dysplasia and even elevated in some cases. It is believed that BCP may induce the synthesis of a protein that blocks the uptake of folate. When RBC folate levels were monitored, it was found that levels were depressed. Regression rates for patients with untreated cervical dysplasia are typically 1.3% for mild and 0% for moderate dysplasia. When treated with folate the regression rate was observed to be 20% to 100% in different studies. (Marz, p. 439, 1997)
Beta-carotene: 200,000 IU per day; as well as concentrating on beta carotene rich foods such as apricots, yams, yellow vegetables, carrots, etc. (Wilie-Rosett, J., et al. Nutrition and Cancer 6(1):49-57, 1984; Orr, J., Wilson, K., Bodifordwith, et al. Am. J. Ob. Gyn. 151:625-31, 1985)
- Beta carotene, solid extract, topically 200,000 IU per day p.o.
• Vitamin A 60,000 IU per day for 2 months, then 25,000 IU per day
Vitamin B6: 100 mg three times daily
Vitamin C: 1 g three times daily Intake has been negatively correlated with the degree of dysplasia. (Wassertheil-Smoller, S., et al. Am J Epidemiol. 114(5):714-24, 1981)
Vitamin E: 400-800 IU per day
Selenium: 100-200 mcg per day (Dowson, E., et al. Fed. Proc. 43:612, 1984)
Zinc picolinate: 30 mg per day


footnotes

Basu & Jayasri, et al. Plasma ascorbic acid and B-carotene levels in women evaluated for HPV infection, smoking and cervical dysplasia. Cancer Detection and Prevention 15(3): 165-69, 1991.
Abstract: 75 women with abnormal pap smears were evaluated, and of those 45 had documented dysplasia with varying grades of severity. 53% of the dysplastic females were smokers. 66 of the subjects with dysplasia were positive for HPV. There was a mean reduction in vitamin C, retinol and B-carotene levels in the dysplastic group. There was a strong association between reduced plasma vitamin C levels and smoking history that was independent of cervical dysplasia or HPV status.

Butterworth, C., et al. Improvement in cervical dysplasia associated with folate therapy in users of BCP. Am. J. Clin. Nut. 35:73-82, 1982.
Abstract: 47 young women with mild or moderate dysplasia who had been on combo-type BCP for at least 6 months received either 10mg folate daily or placebo. Pretreatment RBC folate levels were lower in subjects on BCPs than in those not on BCP and lowest in subjects on BCP with cervical dysplasia. After 3 months, cervical biopsies showed significant improvement only in the women receiving folate. The dysplasia completely disappeared in 7 women receiving folate, while 4 women on placebo showed progression to carcinoma in situ.

Dowson, E., et al. Serum vitamin and selenium changes in cervical dysplasia. Fed. Proc. 43:612, 1984.
Abstract: Serum selenium levels were significantly lower in patients with cervical dysplasia.

Orr, J., Wilson, K., Bodifordwith, et al. Nutritional status of patients with untreated cervical cancer. Biochemical and immunologic assessment. Am. J. Ob. Gyn. 151:625-31, 1985.
Abstract: It was found that while only 6% of patients with untreated cervical CA had below normal serum vitamin A levels, 38% had stage-related abnormal levels of beta carotene.

Wassertheil-Smoller, S., et al. Dietary vitamins and uterine cervical dysplasia. Am J Epidemiol. 114(5):714-24, 1981.
Abstract: Dietary habits of 49 women with cervical abnormalities were compared to those of 49 matched controls. 29% of cases with dysplasia had vitamin levels to 3% of controls (less than 50% of the RDA). This resulted in a 10 fold increased risk for developing cervical dysplasia. Multiple logistic analysis indicated that low vitamin intake is an independent risk factor for the development of severe cervical dysplasia when all other factors are equal.

Whitehead, N., et al. Megaloblastic changes in the cervical epithelium associated with BCP and reversal with folate. JAMA 226:1421-4, 1973.
Abstract: 115 women taking BCP had megaloblastic changes in cervical cells, compared to none of the 51 controls. 8 women with the abnormal cervical cytology took 10mg of folate daily for 3 months and all had complete remission or marked improvement!!

Wilie-Rosett, J., et al. Influence of Vitamin A on cervical dysplasia and carcinoma in situ. Nutrition and Cancer 6(1):49-57, 1984.
Abstract: Vitamin A and beta-carotene intake, as well as cellular retinol binding protein levels, were assessed for 87 women with dysplastic changes or carcinoma in situ. Women consuming less than average vitamin A and beta carotene were 3x as likely to develop severe dysplasia and 2.75x as likely to develop cancer in situ. Binding protein levels in the cervical tissue samples were inversely correlated with the severity of the dysplasia.