Providing Advanced Nutritional Support for Cancer Patients and Survivors

The NORI PROTOCOL

A Simple Approach Combining Diet and Select Nutraceuticals

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. The NORI protocol is not a shotgun approach. It is a scientifically supported highly targeted approach that offers enormous benefit by itself or combined within an overall treatment plan.

One way to look at the NORI protocol is as a system of layers composed of diet, nutraceuticals, stress reduction, anti-inflammation, alkalinity and suppression of growth factors. This perspective is a little different than a multi-targeted approach. It is more like building a firm and powerful structure layer by layer. The foundational layer is diet since nutritional factors have the greatest influence on tumor progression. Click here to view a document outlining the various layers of the NORI protocol.

Important information on the ketogenic diet for Cancer

In this video, Dr. Michael explains why the ketogenic diet approach is not appropriate for cancer treatment. A ketogenic diet is highly promoted currently for cancer treatment but the experience of NORI is that it is counterproductive and has resulted in rapid tumor progression. It is essential to understand that cancer cells metabolize both glucose and glutamine in an abnormal manner. Both of these fuel sources must be restricted simultaneously. Lowering blood glucose alone is not effective.

The Science

Methionine Restriction for Cancer Therapy

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.

Targeted Nutraceuticals for cancer therapy

Mitochondrial Targeted Agents

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,

Sodium Selenite

Inorganic Selenium

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.

The Science

Selenium for the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer

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.

Vitamin K3 (VK3)

Menadione Sodium Bisulfite

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.

Vitamin E Delta-Tocotrienol

A Potent Pro-Oxidant

Numerous scientific studies demonstrate the anti-cancer activity of the tocotrienol form of vitamin E. The delta form exhibits the strongest apoptosis inducing activity. The tocotrienol form of vitamin E differs from the common tocopherol form which share the same molecular structure of the head but differ in the tail molecular structure. Tocotrienols have a polyunsaturated tail which is subject to lipid peroxidation chain reactions. This is how tocotrienols behave as pro-oxidants rather than as an antioxidant. Oral bioavailability of tocotrienols is more than sufficient for therapeutic purposes. Many studies support delta-tocotrienol as a potent apoptosis inducer for a wide array of cancer types including breast, prostate, lung, colon, pancreatic, brain, bladder, stomach and blood cancers. Delta-tocotrienol is derived from the annatto seed and is free of tocopherols which interfere with tocotrienols. Delta-tocotrienol forms one element of a synergistic pro-oxidant cocktail. Click here to sample some of the scientific studies on tocotrienols and cancer.

Lithium Chloride

Lithium for the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer

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.

MOLECULAR Iodine

Molecular Iodine Targets Mitochondria in Cancer Cells

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.

sulforaphane

The Power of Cruciferous Vegetables

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 and cancer therapeutics.

ANTIBIOTICS CAUSE CANCER

Antibiotic Watchdog

NORI has been conducting research into what causes cancer. Shocking information has developed that implicates antibiotic use as a direct cause of at least one third of cancer cases. Please visit www.antibioticwatchdog.com for detailed scientific information on how antibiotics cause cancer and how to avoid them. NORI is actively bringing this critical information to the public and healthcare providers. Antibiotics are very dangerous drugs and create much more harm than destroying our gut bacteria. Antibiotics damage mitochondrial DNA which is why they induce cancer.