The Preventive Role of Nutrition The Preventive Role of Nutrition for for BRCA1/2 Mutation CarriersBRCA1/2 Mutation Carriers

Sharon Bar-Gil, Ph.D., RH (AHG)

Functional Medicine Functional Medicine

• Goal: optimal function• Integrative • Science based • For prevention and treatment• Patient centered - focusing on the individual and

tailoring a unique plan to restore balance• Tools: nutrition, herbs, supplements and life style

modifications

ObjectiveObjective

Understand the Role of Nutrition in Cancer Prevention.

You’re not ill yet, Mrs. Smith,but you’ve got potential.”

Nutrition is an Essential Tool in Your

“Cancer Prevention Tool Kit”.

• Nutritional interventions can:– Reduce & prevent further mutations– Support proper cell growth and death

AgendaAgenda

• Nutrigenomics – nutrition can change gene expression

• Natural agents that can help regulate BRCA1/2 genes:– Fatty acids– Green tea – Turmeric

What is Food? What is Food?

Nutrigenomics – Nutrigenomics – You can turn genes “On” or You can turn genes “On” or

“Off” “Off”

• Nutrigenomics is the study of how foods interact with your genes and alter their expression.

• Genes do not function in isolation. • They interact with each other as well as

with their environment. • Nutrigenomics provides the ambitious goal

of optimizing an individual’s health via nutritional interventions. FASEB; Mutch et al. 19 (12): 1602. (2005)

Nutrition Can Change Nutrition Can Change Gene ExpressionGene Expression

• Animals fed healthy or nutrients deficient diet.• Those on deficient diet developed colon cancer

within 1 year.• 2,000+ genes altered their expression toward a

cancer profile• Pattern of gene expression reverted toward a

healthy profile when nutrients added back to diet. Augenlicht LH: Nutritional genomics and proteomics in cancer prevention conference. J. Nutr. 133: 2410S–2416S, 2003

AgendaAgenda

• Nutrigenomics – How Nutrition can change gene expression

• Natural agents that can help regulate BRCA1/2 genes:– Fatty acids– Green tea – Turmeric

Fatty Acids Regulate BRCA1/2Fatty Acids Regulate BRCA1/2

• Fatty acids (such as fish oils) can regulate BRCA1/2 expression:– Omega 3 (EPA & DHA) fatty acids have been shown to

reduce pathological cell growth.– Omega 6 fatty acids have been found to induce tumor

proliferation.

• DHA supplementation significantly reduced the incidence of tumors (30%) and led to a 60% increase BRCA1 protein level.

• Bernard-Gallon et-al, British Journal of Nutrition (2002), 87, 281–289• MARIE-LISE JOURDAN, ET-AL ,ONCOLOGY REPORTS 17: 713-719, 2007

Where Are They Found? Where Are They Found? • Omega 3 – cold water fish, flax seed, dark leafy

greens, nuts and seeds, olive oil, grass fed beef

• Omega 6 - Safflower oil, Sunflower oil, Corn oil Sesame oil, Soybean oil, Walnut oil, commercially raised beef

Green Tea & Gene ExpressionGreen Tea & Gene Expression

• Helps DNA repair • Inhibits promoting genes (MMP-2, MMP-9)• Increases inhibitory genes • Induces apoptosis• Prevention dosage:

– 300-600 mg (>50% EGCG)= 2-4 caps. daily

• Katiyar, S.K., et al, 1992. Green Tea in Chemoprevention of Cancer. • Adhami, et al, J. Nutr, 2003• Tang et al. Int J Cancer, 2007• Lozano, et al, Febs J, 2006• Susan McCarthy, et-al, molecular Oncology, Volume 1, Issue 2, Pages 196-

204 (September 2007)

Green Tea Extract Inhibits PC inGreen Tea Extract Inhibits PC inHuman Clinical TrialHuman Clinical Trial

• 60 volunteers with PC.• Consumed 200 mg * 3 per day or placebo

for 1 year• At 1 year: 1 tumor was diagnosed in the

green tea group (3%), while 9 cancers were found in the placebo (30%)

• S. Bettuzzi, et-al, Cancer Research 66, 1234-1240, January 2006

Turmeric – Turmeric – Synergy with Chemotherapy Synergy with Chemotherapy

• Turmeric has many mechanisms through which it prevents/destroys cancer cells:– Inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells – Destroy mutated cancer cells

• M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (2008) : Mice injected with aggressive breast cancer cells. – Divided to 4 groups:

• No treatment = 95% metastasis• Taxol only = 75% metastasis• Curcumin only = 50% metastasis• Curcumin + Taxol = 22% metastasis

• Research dosage= 8 g’ daily• journal Clinical Cancer Research, October 15th, 2005• M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Sept. 2008

Prevention = The Concept Prevention = The Concept of Total Loadof Total Load

• Most of us are exposed to constant low level of toxins. • Such exposure is not well studied:

– Difficult to measure – Biochemical individuality = different risks– Multiple sources of exposures have synergistic effects

• The ability to inhibit or repair mutations depends, to a great extent, on lifestyle choices

• The concept of total load = – Decrease exposure – Increase protection

Talk to Your Genes With FoodTalk to Your Genes With Food• Drink about 1 glass of red wine 3-5 days a week. • Limit sugar intake• Consume moderate amounts of fish, eggs, poultry

and/or wild meats up.• Limited consumption of red meat• Eat organically grown or wild foods.• Spice it Up: Use herbs & kitchen spices liberally

Talk to Your Genes With Food Talk to Your Genes With Food

• Consume mostly food from plant sources, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds

• Aim for 2-3 fruits & 5+ vegetables daily• Eat minimally processed and mostly

seasonally fresh foods.• Eat a Rainbow: Choose deeply colored

produce and eat full rainbow of colors daily.

You can be in control when it comes to actively maintaining

your nutritional status.

Thank You Thank You

Sharon Bar-Gil Ph.D., R.H. (AHG)

www.sharonbargil.com

E-mail: sharon@sharonbargil.com

Tel: 054-818-7275