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Recently Diagnosed or Relapsed? Stop Looking For a Miracle Cure, and Use Evidence-Based Therapies To Enhance Your Treatment and Prolong Your Remission

Multiple Myeloma an incurable disease, but I have spent the last 25 years in remission using a blend of conventional oncology and evidence-based nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle therapies from peer-reviewed studies that your oncologist probably hasn't told you about.

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Myeloma Enhance Chemotherapy-Reduce Toxicity

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Collectively, our results suggest that curcumin overcomes chemoresistance and sensitizes MM cells to thalidomide and bortezomib

Thalidomide, Revlimid and Velcade are chemotherapeutic agents used to treat multiple myeloma. These chemotherapies bring with them a number of toxic side effects.  The articles linked and excerpted below discuss the idea of  while managing toxicity while enhancing  efficacy of these multiple myeloma chemotherapy regimens. 

I was first diagnosed with multiple myeloma in early 1994. I achieved complete remission in 1999 where I remain by living an evidence-based, non-toxic, anti-multiple myeloma lifestyle through nutrition, supplementation (curcumin, resveritrol and others) and more.

Multiple myeloma is an aggressive, complicated, incurable blood cancer. MM patients and survivors need to use every evidence-based therapy at their disposal.

Please watch the video below to learn more about the evidence-based, integrative therapies to combat treatment side effects and enhance your chemotherapy.

What are the health benefits of curcumin supplementation?

  1. Anti-inflammatory properties: Curcumin has been shown to inhibit inflammatory pathways in the body, which may help reduce inflammation associated with conditions such as arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and other chronic inflammatory conditions.
  2. Antioxidant activity: Curcumin acts as a powerful antioxidant, scavenging free radicals and reducing oxidative stress in the body. This antioxidant activity may help protect cells from damage and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease.
  3. Pain relief: Some studies suggest that curcumin may have analgesic properties and could help alleviate pain associated with conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It may also help reduce exercise-induced muscle soreness.
  4. Improved cognitive function: Curcumin has been investigated for its potential to support brain health and cognitive function. It may help protect against age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases by reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and the buildup of amyloid plaques associated with conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.
  5. Heart health: Curcumin may benefit heart health by improving endothelial function, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, and lowering levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. These effects may help reduce the risk of heart disease and improve overall cardiovascular health.
  6. Digestive health: Curcumin may have protective effects on the gastrointestinal tract and help alleviate symptoms of conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and gastric ulcers. It may also support gut health by modulating the gut microbiota.
  7. Cancer prevention and treatment: Some research suggests that curcumin may have anti-cancer properties, including the ability to inhibit cancer cell growth, induce apoptosis (programmed cell death), and inhibit angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels that support tumor growth). However, more research is needed to fully understand the potential role of curcumin in cancer prevention and treatment.

Scroll down the page, post a question or a comment and I will reply to you ASAP.

Thank you,

David Emerson

  • Myeloma Survivor,
  • Myeloma Cancer Coach
  • Director PeopleBeatingCancer
 Curcumin Circumvents Chemoresistance in vitro and Potentiates the Effect of Thalidomide and Bortezomib against Human MM in Nude Mice Model

“Collectively, our results suggest that curcumin overcomes chemoresistance and sensitizes MM cells to thalidomide and bortezomib by downregulating NF-κB and NF-κB-regulated gene products.”

Resveratrol inhibits proliferation, induces apoptosis, and overcomes chemoresistance through down-regulation of STAT3 and nuclear factor-κB–regulated antiapoptotic and cell survival gene products in human MM cells

“Resveratrol inhibited the proliferation of human multiple myeloma cell lines regardless of whether they were sensitive or resistant to the conventional chemotherapy agents. This stilbene also potentiated the apoptotic effects of bortezomib and thalidomide…

These mechanistic findings suggest that resveratrol may have a potential in the treatment of MM.”

The Most BioAvailable Curcumin Formulas

“Based on a review of these studies, it is evident that better bioavailability of formulated curcumin (CU) products is mostly attributed to improved solubility, stability, and possibly low first-pass metabolism”

A search of the Pubmed database for the word curcumin yields 601 studies spaning health topics from multiple myeloma and colorectal cancer, to chemotherapies that synergizes with CU, to Alzheimer’s Disease, arthritis and more. Based on years of reading studies and personal accounts, I think it is safe to say that CU supplementation is safe and relatively inexpensive.

I have read about myeloma patients taking daily doses of CU from 400 milligrams to 8 grams (1000 milligrams = 1 gram). By almost any measure, CU is a safe, inexpensive wonder drug.

The only challenge is that CU is famously difficult to absorb in the body. In other words, a person has to mix curcumin with some sort of fat (coconut oil, chocolate, etc.) or take a brand of curcumin capsule that is already formulated to be more “bioavailable” in order to derive the full benefit of CU.

The study linked and exerpted below reviews different formulations of CU. The study itself lists the three most bioavailable formulation/brand of CU and I’ve added an excerpt from a further review from Consumerlab.com that lists four additional bioavailable brands of CU.

Recommended Reading:

Curcumin

“CU is a bright yellow chemical produced by some plants. It is the principal curcuminoid of turmeric (Curcuma longa), a member of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. It is sold as an herbal supplement, cosmetics ingredient, food flavoring, and food coloring.[1]“

Bioavailable curcumin formulations: A review of pharmacokinetic studies in healthy volunteers.

“Curcumin is a widely studied natural compound which has shown tremendous in vitro therapeutic potential. Despite that, the clinical efficacy of the native CU is weak due to its low bioavailability and high metabolism in the gastrointestinal tract. During the last decade, researchers have come up with different formulations with a focus on improving the bioavailability of curcumin. As a result, a significant number of bioavailable curcumin-based formulations were introduced with the varying range of enhanced bioavailability.

The purpose of this review is to collate the published clinical studies of CU products with improved bioavailability over conventional (unformulated) CU. Based on the literature search, 11 curcumin formulations with available human bioavailability and pharmacokinetics data were included in this review. Further, the data on clinical study design, analytical method, pharmacokinetic parameters and other relevant details of each formulation were extracted.

Based on a review of these studies, it is evident that better bioavailability of formulated curcumin products is mostly attributed to improved solubility, stability, and possibly low first-pass metabolism. The review hopes to provide a quick reference guide for anyone looking information on these bioavailable curcumin formulations.

Based on the published reports,

exhibited over 100-fold higher bioavailability relative to reference unformulated CU. Suggested mechanisms accounting for improved bioavailability of the formulations and details on the bioanalysis methods are also discussed.”

According to Consumerlab.com:

“Novasol has the highest bioavailability (185 x compared to unforumulated CU), followed by Curcuwin (136 x), Longvida (100 x), Meriva (48 x), BCM-95 (27 x), Curcumin C3 Complex + Bioperene (20 x), and then Theracumin (16 x).”

 

Leave a Comment:

5 comments
MGUS- Lose Weight-Reduce Risk of Progression to Myeloma - PeopleBeatingCancer says 5 years ago

[…] Multiple Myeloma Patients Enhance Chemotherapy-Reduce Toxicity […]

Reply
Eric Darby says 9 years ago

Thanks David,
Appreciate your response ,I am an avid exerciser and do daily cardio and light weights plus water sports, my p.n. Is manageable only recently starting to annoy me.I certainly will be sourcing Resveterol, I drink green tea daily also.Its great to get information from someone who has been through it all. I appreciate your help.
Cheers Eric

Reply
    David Emerson says 9 years ago

    Hi Eric-
    It sounds as though your PN is manageable. I don’t know if you have any bone involvement but yes, light wts are preferable.
    Regarding resveritrol and green tea. I take a green tea supplement as studies report that a capsule imparts lots more of EGCG (the good stuff) compared to drinking tea. I forgot to mention Wobenzyme N. A systemic enzyme combo that has shown anti-mm action. I take it daily.
    https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=wobenzyme+n%2C+myeloma&ei=UTF-8&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-002

    David

    Reply
Eric Darby says 9 years ago

Hi David,
Had my auto transplant in May,2014 put on Thalidomide maintenance 100mg in July due to para protein of 5g per litre this has come down to 3 g after about 4 months but not reduced since.Neuropathy in my feet is now a problem my oncologist has now reduced the Thalidomide down to 50 mg daily.I have been taking 2000mg of Circumin in tablet form daily, no resveratrol though,also take vitamin D ,calcium,magnesium ,vitamin C plus a multivitamin.I have no other issues am in otherwise good health ,no lethargy etc.Due you suggest an increase in Circumin now my maintenance dose has been lowered also would you also suggest Resveterol into the mix and what dosage? I also take my circumin in one dose in the am and the Thalidimide at night would you suggest taking the Circumin with the Thalidimide ?
Thanks Eric

Reply
    David Emerson says 9 years ago

    Hi Eric-

    I am sorry to read of you mm diagnosis but you sound like you are doing well. You ask several good questions and you are already doing many of the right things based on what I know and read about mm. I will try to address each question below.

    1)”Due you suggest an increase in Circumin now my maintenance dose has been lowered?”

    My understanding of curcumin is that it is almost impossible to get it into our blood stream. Therefore I take a brand of curcumin called “super bio curcumin.” LEF claims that this brand is much more bioavailable. I don’t know if this is true but I have read about the importance of increasing “serum blood levels” of curcumin rather than just taking higher doses. Many people suggest taking curcumin with olive oil or chocolate to increase bioavailability. Doctor’s Best brand of curcumin contains 5 mg of black pepper in each capsule to increase bio availability.

    If it were me and my mm was active, I would focus on bio availability, break doses into 2 or 3 daily doses (curcumin is reported to pass through the blood quickly) and then consider overall daily dose.

    2) “also would you also suggest Resveterol into the mix and what dosage?”

    The studies linked below cite resveritrol’s anti mm ability. I have taken resveritrol (lower maintenance dose…) daily for years now. Regarding anti-mm supplementation, I take omega 3 fatty acids (fish oil), green tea and milk thistle- daily. All based on studies that show all these supplements have anti mm action. I take lower maintenance doses of each though I would consider taking larger doses if my mm were active.
    My point is that I supplement with many different types- all non-toxic all have anti mm and anti cancer properties. I am biased as you can see. It has worked for me but you must decide for yourself.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=resveratrol+%2C+multiple+myeloma

    3) “I also take my circumin in one dose in the am and the Thalidimide at night would you suggest taking the Circumin with the Thalidimide?”

    The study linked below talks about curcumin working with thal.- I think it is logical then, to consider taking both at the same time-
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19372569

    Consider taking a lower dose of thalidomide- either 50mg every other day or 25mg daily-

    http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2141.2008.06989.x/full
    Ultra low dose…
    https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=ultra+low+dose+thalidomide%2C+myeloma&ei=UTF-8&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-002

    Lastly, I have to plug moderate exercise in general for mmers. I don’t know how your PN may inhibit you but I think moderate daily exercise like 30 min on an elliptical is important.

    Let me know if you have other questions. Thanks and hang in there.

    David Emerson

    Reply
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