Return to Medical Topics Home Page                                                                                Salvestrols

Salvestrols are plant compounds that are metabolized by the enzyme CYP1B1, which is highly expressed in malignant cells, into an anti-cancer metabolite.  Salvestrols are elaborated by fruits and vegetables to protect against predation, particularly against fungal attack.  Thus, Salvestrols are found in ripe and over-ripe produce, particularly if grown outdoors in inclement, stressed conditions.  The food we buy at the grocery store is never over-ripe and it is typically not organic.  Rather, it is grown in non-stressed conditions and treated with fungicides; thus, this produce does not generate Salvestrols.  Salvestrols are bitter, and they have been cross-bred out of grocery store produce (we like sweet things).  Basically, the fruits and vegetables that we are eating today from the grocery store are deficient in Salvestrols, and this might be one of the reasons we are experiencing an increasing prevalence of malignancy. 

 I learned about Salvestrols from a long-standing cardiac patient, who also is a long-standing dog lover.  He takes good care of his pets, and they do not die of heart disease or organ failure, but rather from malignancy.  The enzyme CYP1B1 is highly expressed in dogs, and this individual found that Salvestrol supplementation resolved malignancy in his pets.  He learned all he could about Salvestrol, and began to recommend Salvestrol to his human friends with malignancy, with positive results.

 You can learn about Salvestrol from salvestrol.ca, and two books (“Salvestrols:  Journeys to Wellness” and “Salvestrols – Nature’s Defense Against Cancer”) written by Brian A. Schaefer.  These resources contain numerous case studies demonstrating a benefit of Salvestrol supplementation, typically in individuals with recurrent or treatment-refractory malignancy. 

 Salvestrols can be obtained in organic produce, and these resources provide dietary recommendations.  Salvestrols are measured in terms of points, and Salvestrol Platinum, available in North America, provides 2,000 points.  In the setting of known malignancy, the books recommend taking two capsules in the morning and one with lunch.  Our patient, who has a great deal of experience with this approach, points out that our environment is ripe with substances that interfere with CYP1B1; thus, he recommends, in significant malignancy, that one takes six capsules with breakfast and three at lunch.  Drugs and substances (including Metformin, Grapefruit Juice, Resveratrol, and Artificial Sweeteners) that interfere with CYP1B1 activity are listed on the salvestrol.ca website.  No one has proved that Salvestrol supplementation will prevent the development of cancer (a study to do this would be incredibly expensive), but if Salvestrol can resolve established cancer, it makes sense for all of us to take one Salvestrol capsule every day (which I am doing).  Salvestrol may also be of value in the setting of benign prostatic hypertrophy.