This article would better have been titled “Deprivation of dietary antioxidants leads to selective tumor inhibition.” The issue of antioxidants and cancer is an area of controversy, but the great preponderance of literature on this subject supports the use of antioxidants as sole therapy and with conventional oncologic care. These effects have had limited usefulness in human cancer treatment, however. Although deprivation of antioxidants may increase apoptosis in cancer cells, so may administration of exogenous antioxidants such as melatonin, vitamin A, flavonoids, and vitamin E.
Davis W. Lamson and Matthew S. Brignall Kenmore, Wash.
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