Breast Cancer

Iron / aluminum toxicity in breast cancer

Free (unbound) iron can cause breast cancer

Cancer cells depend on free iron to multiply.  Free iron is needed for DNA replication in rapidly dividing cells.   Several studies, (but not all) have shown that free iron concentrations in ductal breast tissue has a major role in cancer development and progression to aggressive / deadly cancers.  Wu T et al, 2004;  Cade J et al, 1998;  Kalinowski DS, Richardson DR, 2005 

Iron bound by transferrin is relatively harmless.  90% of iron absorbed from your diet is normally bound to protective proteins, such as ferritin and transferrin.  Studies have shown that certain activities can cause too much of the iron to be released into surrounding tissues, and if this iron exists as free iron, it can trigger inflammation, lipid peroxidation, and free radical generation. Transferrin is a protein that binds iron for transport in the bloodstream for delivery of Fe (III) into cells and the transferrin receptor is over-expressed on the surface of cancer cells.    Since most cancer drugs target rapidly dividing cells, transferrin has even been considered as a delivery mechanism for cancer drugs.

Free iron levels in breast ductal tissue can become dangerously high over time inducing malignant tumor formation.

Breast cancer nipple fluid found to have ~2X aluminum and 5X ferritin levels than normal.   Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Urbino Italy found that in addition to almost twice as much aluminum, that women with breast cancer had 5X higher levels of ferritin, an iron transport protein (also confirmed in other studies).

• Ductal nipple fluid.   Extracted via a breast pump in pre- and post-menopausal women is examined to measure levels of such as iron, ferritin (an iron-binding protein), CRP (a measure of breast inflammation) and aluminum.  Mannello F, et al, 2011;  Shpyleva SI et al, 2011

In previous studies, iron intake did not necessarily correlate with breast cancer risk, however, more critical was the release of iron from its protective proteins.   This explains why some studies found no link between iron intake in the diet and breast cancer incidence. Lithgow D et al, 2006; Kabat GC et al, 2007

Iron toxicity involved in other diseases

With the ability of aluminum to displace iron from its protective proteins.    We may not only see a dramatic increase in breast cancer, but also other iron-related diseases, such as liver degeneration, neurodegenerative disease, diabetes, heart failure and atherosclerosis. No one is addressing this very real danger.

What can displace iron bound to transferrin and release it as free iron ?

Excessive alcohol intake.  Women who drink greater than 2 standard alcoholic drinks a days significantly increase the free iron in their breast tissue and have a higher incidence of invasive breast cancer - the most deadly form.  Lee DH et al, 2004. A standard alcoholic drink contains 10g alcohol in a 12oz beer (~5% alc.), 5oz wine (12.5% ABV), or 1.5 oz of spirit (40% ABV). ABV = Alcohol by volume.

Excessive estrogen. Increases free iron levels and thus cell multiplication with its associated risk of breast cancer. This could help explain the link between high estrogen levels and breast cancer. Wyllie S, Liehr JG, 1997

Aluminum

Where is aluminum in our bodies coming from?

Vaccines

• Vaccine adjuvants - Many inactivated vaccines contain aluminum salts to boost their immune reaction to the antigen (your body responds to the antigen by making antibodies against the injected virus, and boosting immune response allows vaccine manufacturer to use less of the expensive antigen) Flarend et al, 1997 
• The anthrax vaccine, hepatitis vaccine and tetanus vaccine contain particularly high amounts of aluminum.  Several vaccines contain aluminum, including:  Hepatitis A and B; DtaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis); Hib vaccine;  Pneumococcal vaccine;  Gardasil (HPV vaccine)

The FDA sets the guidelines for what and how much aluminum is allowed in vaccines.    The maximum amount of allowable elemental aluminum is 850 mcg per vaccine:

• Oddly, there is no distinction made between a small infant or an adult.
•   the FDA 850 mcg limitation is based on the effectiveness of the adjuvant role of aluminum and has nothing to do with limitations based on safety!  Discovered by  Dr. David Ayoub, a radiologist, physician, and specialist on the additives and preservatives used in vaccines. The average aluminum content per vaccine ranges between 200 to 400 mcg (some contain less).

How much aluminum are children receiving from vaccines?

• Many children end up receiving multiple vaccines at a time and children today are receiving 17 shots that contain aluminum, compared to 4 vaccines in the 1970s - mid-80s.
• A newborn receives a dose of aluminum that exceeds FDA safety limits (5mg/kg/day) for injected aluminum by 20-fold, and at 6 months of age a dose that was 50-fold higher than FDA safety limits. By the age of 6, American children have been exposed to multiple injected doses of aluminum-containing vaccines.  Tomljenovic L and Shaw C. 2011 in press.
• A 2024 study  found that exposure to aluminum during developmental stages led to hippocampus neuronal damage. The effect of the neuronal damage induced could persist throughout adulthood without sustained aluminum accumulation. Lingling et al, 2024

Other sources of aluminum

• Underarm antiperspirants
• Aluminum bakeware
• Baking soda containing aluminum
• Drinks from aluminum cans / pouches

Treatment and prevention of aluminum toxicity

Avoid or minimize exposures:

• Avoid cooking with aluminum utensils / pans
• Don't store food in contact with aluminum
• Use aluminum-free baking soda, deodorant, toothpaste
• Avoid aluminum-containing vaccines, or separate multiple aluminum-containing vaccines by 2-4 weeks
• Avoid drinks in aluminum pouches / cans - especially if they contain citrates / ascorbates which enhance aluminum absorption
• Take vitamin C and fruit juices on an empty stomach
• Minimize exposure to calcium carbonate-containing medicines - many are contaminated with aluminum. E.g. oral antacids

Chelation substances:

• Oral calcium disodium EDTA.   Pulls lead and aluminum, but is also contaminated with aluminum, as are many calcium-containing products. Intravenous EDTA can be administered by healthcare professional.
• Rectal-use Detoxamin.    Has low absorption of the aluminum contaminant, that requires iron-transport system found mostly in small bowel as opposed to the rectum.
• Deferoxamine (DFO) is a potent chelator for iron and aluminum poisoning.    However, it has potential serious side effects and can only be administered by a physician.

Other tactics to combat aluminum poisoning:

• Maintain normal serum Vitamin D levels
• Maintain MELATONIN levels. This powerful antioxidant produced by the body at night in the dark, is particularly depleted by aluminum exposure;
• Curcumin.  Aluminum detoxifciation processes triggered by curcumin have been linked to its ability to scavenge free radicals, function as a natural chelating agent, and/or induce antioxidant enzymes. Smirnova E et al, AReview of the Role of Curcumin in Metal Induced Toxicity, 2023,
• Include Foods / Supplement that drive the methylation process (methionine cycle).    i.e., B6, B12, folic acid, folinic acid, in e.g. leafy greens, eggs.  Methylation is involved in critical body processes,including DNA repair / synthesis, detoxification, and balancing neurotransmitters. Elkin et al, 2023, Aluminum can impair methylation by competing for essential minerals such as magnesium, calcium and iron, all cofactors for enzymes (e.g. MTHFR) in the methylation process,  leading to several health problems including cancer, heart disease, mood disorders and neurological  / cognitive disorders (such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, M.S. Exley C, 2013), and autoimmune disorders (such as  systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. Pollard et al, 2019 
• Cilantro.    Natural chelation

References

NEW Studies Reveal Alarming Hidden Cause of Breast Cancer, Russell L. Blaylock, MD, CCN

Cade J et al. Case-control study of breast cancer in southeast England: Nutritional factors. Epidemiol Community Health 1998; 52: 105-110.

Elkin ER, Higgins C, Aung MT, Bakulski KM. Metals Exposures and DNA Methylation: Current Evidence and Future Directions. Curr Environ Health Rep. 2022 Dec;9(4):673-696. doi: 10.1007/s40572-022-00382-4. Epub 2022 Oct 25. PMID: 36282474; PMCID: PMC10082670. PubMed

Exley, C. (2013). Human exposure to aluminium. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, 15(10), 1807-1816. https://doi.org/10.1039/C3EM00374D

Flarend et al. In vivo absorption of aluminum-containing vaccine adjuvants using Al-26. Vaccine 1997 15, 1314-1318.

Kabat GC et al. Dietary iron and heme iron intake and risk of breast cancer: a prospective cohort study. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007; 16:1306-1308.

Kalinowski DS, Richardson DR. The evolution of iron chelators for the treatment of iron overload disease and cancer. Pharmacol Rev 2005; 57: 547-583

Lee DH et al. Dietary iron intake and breast cancer: The Iowa Women's Health Study. Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res 2004; 45: A2319. Link

Lingling Yang, Guangzi Qi, Wenlian Rao, Yufang Cen, Liping Chen, Wenxue Li, Yaqin Pang, Aluminum causes irreversible damage to the development of hippocampal neurons by regulating m6A RNA methylation, Toxicology Letters, Volume 399, 2024, Pages 34-42, ISSN 0378-4274

Lithgow D et al. C-reactive protein in nipple aspirate fluid: relation to women's health factors. Nurs Res 2006; 65: 418-425.

Mannello F, et al. Analysis of aluminum content and iron homeostasis in nipple aspirate fluids from healthy women and breast cancer-affected patients. J Appl Toxicol 2011; Feb 21; PubMed

Pollard, K. M., Cauvi, D. M., Toomey, C. B., Hultman, P., & Kono, D. H. (2019). Mercury-induced inflammation and autoimmunity. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects, 1863(12), 129299. PubMed

Shpyleva SI et al. Role of ferritin alterations in human breast cancer cells. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2011; 126: 63-71  PubMed

Smirnova E, Moniruzzaman M, Chin S, Sureshbabu A, Karthikeyan A, Do K, Min T. A Review of the Role of Curcumin in Metal Induced Toxicity. Antioxidants (Basel). 2023 Jan 21;12(2):243. doi: 10.3390/antiox12020243. PMID: 36829803; PMCID: PMC9952547. PubMed

Wu T et al. Serum iron, copper and zinc concentrations and the risk of cancer mortality in US adults. Ann Epidemiol 2004; 14: 195-201.

Wyllie S, Liehr JG. Release of iron from ferritin storage by redox cycling of stilbene and steroid estrogen metabolites: a mechanism of induction of free radical damage by estrogen. Arch Biochem Biophys 1997; 346: 180-186  PubMed

Zaw, J. J. T., Howe, P. R. C., & Wong, R. H. X. (2018). Postprandial effects of a meal low in sulfur amino acids and high in methylated micronutrients on amino acid, homocysteine, and glutathione metabolism in healthy human subjects. Nutrients, 10(9), 1188. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10091188