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There are two core elements of the NORI protocol which are a methionine restricted diet and the creation of oxidative stress. A methionine restricted diet is intended to slow cancer progression and weaken cancer cells. Oxidative stress is a powerful mechanism to trigger apoptosis selectively in cancer cells. This idea is contrary to the belief that antioxidants are beneficial for cancer treatment. Current studies show that antioxidants help the survival of cancer cells.

Diet is a powerful tool but diet alone is not sufficient in treating cancer. This is because there are many uncontrolled tumor growth factors and diet alone can not overcome these powerful tumor growth signals. One example is estrogen which must be appropriately addressed in ER+ breast cancers.

The NORI protocol is not based on building or boosting the immune system. It is not based on correcting nutritional deficiencies so it utilizes very minimal nutritional supplementation. Certain nutritional supplements are known to promote tumor growth so these are excluded from the protocol.

     Methionine restriction is a powerful dietary approach that attempts to starve cancer cells of an essential amino acid building block necessary for protein synthesis. Methionine restriction has other applications in extending lifespan, improving metabolic health and lowering inflammation. Of all the different dietary approaches to cancer, methionine restriction stands out as the approach most supported by scientific research. Methionine restriction not only limits the availability of one particular amino acid necessary for cancer cell growth and survival, but also limits other critical amino acids that cancer cells require for growth and division. Normal cells are unharmed through these intermittent nutritional interventions. NORI has developed a specific methionine restriction protocol that has been utilized for many years with proven success. It is recommended that one consults with NORI in applying a methionine restricted diet for best results. We offer low-cost programs to support you.

     NORI has compiled many scientific papers on methionine restriction as a therapeutic tool in cancer therapy. Click here to download these studies that we have carefully reviewed and utilized in designing our methionine restriction protocol.

     Targeting mitochondria is the most universal, effective and least toxic approach to cancer treatment. Mitochondria are dysfunctional in cancer cells and are involved in regulation of apoptosis. Elevating oxidative stress causes mitochondria to release apoptotic signals and causes major changes in mitochondrial membrane potential.

     A combinations of specific nutraceuticals such as Sodium Selenite, Vitamin K3 (Menadione and Genipin can be a powerful means to elevate oxidative stress (ROS) and trigger apoptosis selectively in cancer cells. Other nutraceuticals can help support the induction of apoptosis by either inhibiting or activating certain intracellular pathways. Lithium Chloride is a good example of this,

     Over 40 years of research has demonstrated that sodium selenite is a powerful selective chemotherapeutic agent. Click here to review the scientific studies on sodium selenite as an anti-tumor agent. Because sodium selenite is a non-patentable molecule, an insignificant amount of investment into clinical research has been available. Sodium selenite is very inexpensive readily available as a nutritional supplement. For cancer prevention, supplementation with sodium selenite at 200-400 micrograms per day is appropriate. For therapeutic purposes, the dose for sodium selenite ranges from 6,000-30,000 micrograms per day. Sodium selenite is a  small water soluble molecule so it has excellent bioavailability. It also has a sufficiently long plasma half-life to allow an excellent therapeutic response. Sodium selenite can be administered by IV injection or administered as a sublingual tablet. Do not self-administer sodium selenite as it can be toxic at excessive dosages and will cause severe nausea if if not taken properly. NORI can assist you with proper IV administration by working with your physician or through our support program. 

     Selenium is possibly one of the most studied nutritional factors associated with cancer prevention. Because of the data collected on the importance of adequate selenium for cancer prevention, numerous studies have looked at various forms of selenium for cancer treatment. Sodium selenite appears to be one of the most effective forms of selenium for cancer therapy.  There is some concern regarding the toxic nature of selenium compounds but at the dosages required for cancer treatment, there is no potential toxicity. Excessive selenium intake can cause reversible hair loss and changes to the nails. There are ongoing clinical trials at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of sodium selenite as a chemotherapeutic agent. When sodium selenite is combined with other pro-oxidants such as vitamin K3 and genipin, the response is enhanced through a synergistic mechanism creating a higher level of oxidative stress.

     VK3 has been scientifically evaluated for 40 years as a selective chemotherapeutic agent. There are a few clinical studies involving combinations of VK3 and vitamin C. VK3 appears to deplete glutathione, elevate ROS and trigger apoptosis in a wide array of cancer cell types. VK3 is a synthetic form of vitamin K and is also a molecule that chemotherapeutic agents have been modeled from. Menadione sodium bisulfite is a water soluble form of VK3 that is the form utilized in the majority of studies. Vitamins K1 and K2 exhibit very little anti-cancer activity. VK3 is a 1,4-naphthoquinone which is a class of molecules that exhibit potent anti-cancer and antimicrobial activity. There are naturally occurring 1,4-naphthoquinones in plants that are protective for microbial threats.

     Numerous scientific studies demonstrate the anti-cancer activity of genipin which is the active compound found in gardenia fruit extract. Genipin inhibits a mitochondrial protein, UCP2 which is involved in regulating the oxidative stress level.  Genipin acts synergistically with other agents and has been shown to be active against a wide array of cancer cell lines. Gardenia fruit extract has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for hundreds of years with a good safety and efficacy profile for many conditions including cancer. Genipin is water soluble and has good oral bioavailability.

     NORI is currently investigating the potential of lithium in the treatment of cancer. Lithium is a naturally occurring alkali metal commonly found in foods and is associated with a significantly reduced cancer risk. Various forms of lithium have been prescribed for decades as a treatment for bipolar disorder. Studies have identified pathways in cancer cells that are affected by lithium treatment which lead to apoptosis. One identified pathway is called GSK-3ß which lithium inhibits and leads to elevated ROS triggering apoptosis.

     Lithium chloride is a highly water soluble salt that was once sold as a salt substitute. Lithium chloride can be toxic at high levels and prolonged exposure. However, for intermittent pulsed treatment, lithium chloride may prove to be safe and effective.  As an anti-cancer agent, lithium chloride is not likely to be effective alone but highly effective in combination with other anti-cancer agents. An in vivo study showed that lithium chloride acted synergistically with 5-FU resulting in highly significant survival.

     Very promising studies demonstrate selective chemotherapeutic activity of molecular iodine across a variety of cancer cell lines. Breast cancer cell lines are especially sensitive to molecular iodine at very low concentration (< 4 micromoles). The iodide form of iodine does not induce apoptosis. The mechanism by which molecular iodine triggers apoptosis is nearly identical to sodium selenite and one would expect synergy form a molecular iodine and sodium selenite combination. Iodine supplements which are predominantly molecular iodine are available but there are stability issues that must me resolved. This ia an area deserving of further research. A phase II clinical trial found clear survival benefit from molecular iodine supplementation  at 5 mg per day combined with standard chemotherapy treatment.

Cruciferous vegetables are well known for their health promoting properties. A group of compounds found in cruciferous vegetables that possess known disease fighting activity are called isothiocyanates.

Sulforaphane is an isothiocynate that has been demonstrated to have potent anti-cancer activity in cell culture and animal studies. There are ongoing  human clinical trials evaluating sulforaphane for a variety of diseases including cancer. The incorporation of sulforaphane as a both a chemopreventative and chemotherapeutic agent is exciting because the required dose is small and the bioavailability of the compounds is favorable. Broccoli sprouts contain a high content of sulforaphane and dried extracts may be the best source for  dietary supplementation.