Prostate cancer is a tumor that affects the prostate, a gland located below the bladder in men. It is the most common type of cancer in men, after non-melanoma skin cancer.
According to data from the National Cancer Institute (INCA), prostate cancer represents 29% of cancer cases among men in Brazil. Each year, there are around 66,000 new cases of the disease, leading to nearly 16,000 deaths.
This type of tumor grows slowly and most people do not show signs or symptoms until late in life. This is why it is important to carry out annual preventive examinations.
Furthermore, a preliminary study carried out in the laboratory on mice identified a supplement capable of slowing the progression of prostate cancer, which could be a treatment option for the disease in the future.
The vitamin that helps slow the progression of prostate cancer
In this study, American researchers identified a possible strategy to slow the progression of prostate cancer using a supplement: vitamin K3, also known as menadione.
The research, led by Professor Lloyd Trotman of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), focused on a pro-oxidant menadione (K3) supplement and demonstrated that menadione is able to kill cancer cells by destroying an essential lipid called PI(3)P. Without this lipid, cells lose their ability to recycle materials and eventually explode due to the buildup of unprocessed substances.
“It’s like an airport. If all arriving planes immediately lose their identification, no one knows where they should go next. New planes continue to arrive and the transportation center begins to swell. This ultimately leads to cell rupture,” explains Lloyd Trotman of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL).
This strategy could be promising for men in the early stages of prostate cancer, diagnosed by biopsy.
The tests were only carried out on mice and the researchers emphasize that additional studies are needed to verify the safety and effectiveness of vitamin K3 in humans. However, although still at a preliminary stage, The results obtained in this study provide hope for future treatments against the disease.
Another scientific benefit of vitamin K3
Researchers also found that vitamin K3 may be effective against a rare disease called myotubular myopathy, a genetic disorder that affects muscle growth in children.
In studies conducted on mice, the use of this supplement has doubled the life expectancy of affected animals. If the same benefit is seen in humans, it could mean greater longevity for children with myotubular myopathy.
What kind of vitamin is this?
Vitamin K3 is one of four forms of vitamin K, with phylloquinone (K1), dihydrophylloquinone (dK) and menaquinone (K2). It has anticancer effects through various mechanisms of action.
The main sources of vitamin K are, in general, foods such as spinach, kale, arugula, broccoli and other dark green leafy vegetables. But it is also found in oilseeds, avocado, eggs and vegetable oils.
Article reference:
Study reveals a vitamin that can slow the progression of prostate cancer. December 20, 2024. Caroline Vale.
Vitamin K supplement slows prostate cancer in mice. 24 de outubro, 2024. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Dietary pro-oxidant therapy by a vitamin K precursor targets PI 3-kinase VPS34 function. 25 de outubro, 2024. Manojit M. Swamynathan, et al.
