Foods/Supplements-Vitamins: IP(6) - Inositol Hexaphosphate

[pjoshea13]

[1] Introduction.

IP(6) - Inositol Hexaphosphate - phytic acid - is found in bran, seeds, legumes & nuts to varying degrees. In supplement form, it probably comes from rice bran.

IP(6) is a store of phosphorus in plants. Ruminants produce the enzyme phytase, which releases the phosphorus. Elsewhere, I write about the importance of limiting phosphorus intake, which inhibits conversion of hormonally active vitamin D. We do not want to liberate the phosphorus of IP(6), but gut bacteria may produce some phytase - perhaps more so in vegetarians.

Phytic acid is classed as an antinutrient. This is because it binds to minerals. When used as a supplement, IP(6) should not be taken with food, as it will bind to minerals in the meal & they will not be absorbed.

[2] PCa Cell & Mice Studies (oldest first).

[2a] Shamsuddin is the man behind "IP-6 Gold". He patented a ratio of (Inositol Hexaphosphate):(Inositol) = 22:80. [2a1] Competing supplements have to avoid combining the two in anything like that ratio.

Source Natural sells IP-6 powder (400 g) with a dose of 1.5 tsp = 3.7g [2a2], & they also sell Inositol powder (16 oz) with a dose of 0.25 tsp = 845 mg [2a3]. It's cute that one is packaged in grams & the other in ounces, & doses are given in g & mg, but I think the intent is clear. If they had used an IP-6 dose of 1.25 tsp, rather than 1.5 tsp, the ratio would be almost identical to Shamsuddin's.

(Look in Amazon for cheaper options.)

At those weights, the powder lasts forever. I measure, mix in water, & swallow while my 5 a.m. coffee is brewing. It has no taste to speak of. Wait at least an hour before eating.

<Shamsuddin "Inositol Hexaphosphate"> gets 35 hits on PubMed, for those interested in his non-PCa IP(6) papers. The studies span ten years & stopped ten years ago.

[2a4] (1995 - U.S. - Shamsuddin)

"Inositol hexaphosphate inhibits growth and induces differentiation of PC-3 human prostate cancer cells."

[2b] Agarwal (Colorado) has done most of the research on IP(6) & PCa. Twelve PubMed papers (2000-2013). Some are too technical to comment on here, but links are provided for [2b1] through [2b12], below signature. Some extracts follow.

[2b4] "Our results suggest that IP6 could be a potent dietary agent in controlling the growth of advanced PCA cells and inducing their apoptotic death, in part, by its inhibitory effect on constitutively active NF-kappa B signaling pathway."

[2b5] (Mouse study) "IP6 suppresses hormone-refractory PCA growth accompanied by inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis and increased apoptosis. IP6-caused increase in IGFBP-3 and decrease in VEGF might have a role in PCA growth control."

IGFBP-3 is the major binding protein for IGF-I (insulin-like growth factor I) & is down-regulated by PCa. It reduces free IGF-I (a good thing). VEGF is the growth factor for new blood vessels, so a decrease is a good thing too.

[2b7] A full-text review paper.

[2b12] "Constitutive activation of ... (PI3K)-Akt pathway transmits growth-regulatory signals that play a central role in promoting survival, proliferation, and angiogenesis in human prostate cancer cells. Here, we assessed the efficacy of inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) against invasive human prostate cancer PC-3 and C4-2B cells and regulation of PI3K-Akt pathway. IP6 treatment of cells suppressed proliferation, induced apoptosis along with caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, and inhibited constitutive activation of Akt and its upstream regulators PI3K ... "

"These findings suggest that, by targeting the PI3K-ILK1-Akt pathway, IP6 suppresses cell survival, proliferation, and angiogenesis but induces death in prostate cancer cells, which might have translational potential in preventing and controlling the growth of advanced and aggressive prostate cancer for which conventional chemotherapy is not effective."

[2c] Other PCa studies.

[2c1] "Inositol hexaphosphate represses telomerase activity and translocates TERT from the nucleus in mouse and human prostate cancer cells via the deactivation of Akt and PKCalpha."

"Since the activation of telomerase is crucial for cells to gain immortality and proliferation ability, we examined the role of IP6 in the regulation of telomerase activity in prostate cancer cells. Here, we show that IP6 represses telomerase activity in mouse and human prostate cancer cells dose-dependently."

The telomere is a primitive counter. It shortens with each cell division. This limits the number of times a cell can divide (Hayflick limit). PCa restores telomerase, which prevents the shortening of the telomere. IP(6) inhibits telomerase.

[2c2] (2014 - China) Seems to verify upregulation of IGFBP-3.

-Patrick

[2a1] iherb.com/IP-6-Internationa...

[2a2] iherb.com/Source-Naturals-I...

[2a3] iherb.com/Source-Naturals-P...

[2a4] ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/763...

[2b1] ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/111...

[2b2] ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/126...

[2b3] ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/145...

[2b4] ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/146...

[2b5] ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/147...

[2b6] ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/155...

[2b7] ar.iiarjournals.org/content...

[2b8] ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/169...

[2b9] ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/184...

[2b10] ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/191...

[2b11] ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/195...

[2b12] ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/199...

[2c1] ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/169...

[2c2] ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/253...

[BigRich]

Parrick,

I looked into this about six years ago; even ordered an initial supply, but I never took it. I don,t remember if it was a concern for my kidney disease or my diabetes. I think I will revisit the topic. I will have to see if it will have any interaction with my Casodex.

Rich

[Magnus1964]

I used to take IP6, but then like all drugs the cancer found a work-around and my PSA began to rise. I have been through a lot of supplements in the past. I can't really say what works but I have tried a lot each may have worked for a while. My advise, try it.

[softwaremom00]

Just finished reading the main book by Shamsuddin on IP6. It seems like a good supplement. I have my better half taking it for his PCa. I am going to start taking a lower dosage myself just for cell health.

[Eddie777]

Will Inositol Hexaphosphate help an individual who has arterial calcification? Thanks

[pjoshea13 in reply to Eddie777]

Eddie,

The only thing I know that should help is vitamin K2. My wife now has zero calcification.

-Patrick

[Eddie777 in reply to pjoshea13]

Hi Patrick, thank you for the reply. I am taking K2 at the moment. I was taking 200 mcg daily, but just increased it to 400 mcg and on occasion 400 mcg twice daily. I was thinking about adding some K1 as well. I read that the synergistic effects are increased when combined. Thanks.

-Eddie

[Eddie777 in reply to pjoshea13]

One other thing, what test should I get to verify how much calcification I have.

[Advo__cate in reply to Eddie777]

For my husband the calcifications showed up on the routine CT scan he gets from his oncologist, at this point he advised us to see a cardiologist. The first test prescribed by the cardio was a C Calcium score test (a boatload of radiation and out of pocket but only about a hundred dollars). We asked the cardiologist for a stress test up front but was told the C-Calcium Score test would show the “exact degree” of calcifications.

At this time my husband was not having symptoms of CVD, but shortly after this time he began to feel a bit winded after exertion. A stress test was done and they are advising a cath procedure with intention to stent. He is on K-2 since learning about the calcifications since the CT scan.

[pjoshea13 in reply to Eddie777]

Eddie,

A coronary calcium scan [1].

Oddly, it is generally not covered by insurance.

Fortunately it is inexpensive; it cost <$150 when I had mine.

I walked into the imaging center with my prescription, but no appointment. They took my payment & sent me in right away. No injections. The entire visit was under 20 minutes.

The report may cover additional things. Mine included comments on the part of my liver that appeared in the scan. My wife was informed that she had a hiatal hernia.

-Patrick

[1] nytimes.com/2018/04/02/well...

[Eddie777 in reply to pjoshea13]

Thanks again Patrick.

[Advo__cate in reply to pjoshea13]

How long on K2 until your wife achevied zero calcifications?

[pjoshea13 in reply to Advo__cate]

Less than 5 years.

My test occurred about two years earlier & I had been using K for only 2+ years. Two of the arteries were clear. The other two had minor calcification.

Too bad we didn't start out with baseline scans.

-Patrick

[Advo__cate in reply to pjoshea13]

Thanks. We’re you on satins as well?

[pjoshea13 in reply to Advo__cate]

Yes, 40mg Simvastatin for the past 10+ years. -Patrick

[Eddie777]

I'm not on statins. Would have affect whether the vitamin K2 works or not? Thanks

[pjoshea13 in reply to Eddie777]

K2 is needed for calcium transprt to bone. Statins do not affect that.

-Patrick

[Eddie777 in reply to pjoshea13]

So basically the excess calcium in the arteries and other areas of the body is moved to where it should be when one supplements with Vitamin K2, correct? Thank you.

[pjoshea13 in reply to Eddie777]

Eddie,

You wrote "excess calcium in the arteries". It is really excess, since the body intended that it go straight to bone. But without K for transport, some ends up in arterial walls.

-P.

[pjoshea13 in reply to pjoshea13]

I intended to write "It isn't really excess".

[Eddie777 in reply to pjoshea13]

Thanks again pjoshea13. Have a nice day!