Other Name(s):
Acide Phytique, Calcium Magnesium Inositol Hexaphosphate, Calcium Phytate, Fytic Acid, Hexaphosphate d'Inositol, Hexaphosphate d'Inositol de Calcium Magnésium, Inositol Hexaphosphate, Phytate, Phytate de Calcium, Phytic Acid.
- Overview
- Uses
- Side Effects
- Interactions
- Dosing
IP-6, inositol hexaphosphate, is a vitamin-like substance. It is found in animals and many plants, especially cereals, nuts, and legumes. It can also be made in a laboratory.
Some people use IP-6 to treat and prevent cancer, including prostate cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, and blood cancers. Researchers have been studying the role of IP-6 in cancer treatment and prevention since 1988. But, so far, there have been no studies in people with cancer. A book called "IP-6, Nature's Revolutionary Cancer-Fighter" by prominent IP-6 researcher Abulkalam M. Shamsuddin, MD, Ph.D, has popularized IP-6 as an anti-cancer tool.
IP-6 is also used for boosting the immune system, treating anemia, and preventing heart disease and kidney stones.
In manufacturing, IP-6 is added to food to keep it from spoiling.
How does work?
IP-6 might help treat and prevent cancer by slowing down the production of cancer cells. It might also bind to certain minerals, decreasing the risk of colon cancer. IP-6 is also an antioxidant.
Possibly Effective for...
- Preventing kidney stones, when IP-6 is consumed in the diet.
Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...
- Treating and preventing cancer.
- Preventing heart attacks.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of IP-6 for these uses.
IP-6 is safe when used in amounts found in foods. There isn't enough information to know if it is safe when used in medicinal amounts.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: IP-6 is safe for pregnant and breast-feeding women when used in food amounts. But the safety of using IP-6 is larger medicinal amounts is unknown. It's best to stick to food amounts if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Clotting disorders: Test tube studies suggest that IP-6 can slow blood clotting. Although this effect has not been shown in humans, experts recommend that people with clotting disorders avoid using IP-6.
Iron-deficiency anemia: IP-6 binds with iron in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This reduces the amount of iron that the body absorbs from food and supplements.
Weak bones (osteoporosis or osteopenia): IP-6 binds with calcium in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This reduces the amount of calcium that the body absorbs from food and supplements. Reduced calcium can affect bone strength.
Surgery: Since test tube research suggests that IP-6 might slow blood clotting, there is a concern that it might increase the risk of extra bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using IP-6 at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
**SpecialPrecautions**
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
IP-6 nicotinate might slow blood clotting. Taking IP-6 along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.
Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
The appropriate dose of IP-6 depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for IP-6. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
References
Challa A, Rao DR, Reddy BS. Interactive suppression of aberrant crypt foci induced by azoxymethane in rat colon by phytic acid and green tea. Carcinogenesis 1997;18:2023-6. View abstract.
Deliliers GL, Servida F, Fracchiolla NS, et al. Effect of inositol hexaphosphate (IP(6)) on human normal and leukaemic haematopoietic cells. Br J Haematol 2002;117:577-87. View abstract.
Graf E, Eaton JW. Antioxidant functions of phytic acid. Free Radic Biol Med 1990;8:61-69. View abstract.
Grases F, Costa-Bauza A. Phytate (IP6) is a powerful agent for preventing calcifications in biological fluids: usefulness in renal lithiasis treatment. Anticancer Res 1999;19:3717-22.. View abstract.
Grases F, Garcia-Gonzalez R, Torres JJ, Llobera A. Effects of phytic acid on renal stone formation in rats. Scand J Urol Nephrol 1998;32:261-5.. View abstract.
Jariwalla RJ. Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) as an anti-neoplastic and lipid-lowering agent. Anticancer Res 1999;19:3699-3702. View abstract.
Modlin M. Urinary phosphorylated inositols and renal stone. Lancet 1980;2:1113-4.. View abstract.
Saied IT, Shamsuddin AM. Up-regulation of the tumor suppressor gene p53 and WAF1 gene expression by IP6 in HT-29 human colon carcinoma cell line. Anticancer Res 1998;18:1479-84. View abstract.
Sandberg AS, Brune M, Carlsson NG, et al. Inositol phosphates with different numbers of phosphate groups influence iron absorption in humans. Am J Clin Nutr 1999;70:240-6. View abstract.
Sandstrom B, Sandberg AS. Inhibitory effects of isolated inositol phosphates on zinc absorption in humans. J Trace Elem Electrolytes Health Dis 1992;6:99-103. View abstract.
Shamsuddin AM, Elsayed AM, Ullah A. Suppression of large intestinal cancer in F344 rats by inositol hexaphosphate. Carcinogenesis 1988;9:577-80. View abstract.
Shamsuddin AM, Vucenik I, Cole KE. IP6: a novel anti-cancer agent. Life Sci 1997;61:343-54. View abstract.
Shamsuddin AM, Vucenik I. Mammary tumor inhibition by IP6: a review. Anticancer Res 1999;19:3671-4. View abstract.
Shamsuddin AM, Yang GY. Inositol hexaphosphate inhibits growth and induces differentiation of PC-3 human prostate cancer cells. Carcinogenesis 1995;16:1975-9. View abstract.
Shamsuddin AM. Metabolism and cellular functions of IP6: a review. Anticancer Res 1999;19:3733-6. View abstract.
Steinmetz KA, Potter JD. Vegetables, fruit, and cancer prevention: a review. J Am Diet Assoc 1996;96:1027-39. View abstract.
Tantivejkul K, Vucenik I, Eiseman J, Shamsuddin AM. Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) enhances the anti-proliferative effects of adriamycin and tamoxifen in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2003;79:301-12. View abstract.
Thompson LU, Zhang L. Phytic acid and minerals: effect on early markers of risk for mammary and colon carcinogenesis. Carcinogenesis 1991;12:2041-5. View abstract.
Vucenik I, Passaniti A, Vitolo MI, et al. Anti-angiogenic activity of inositol hexaphosphate (IP6). Carcinogenesis 2004;25:2115-23. View abstract.
Vucenik I, Podczasy JJ, Shamsuddin AM. Antiplatelet activity of inositol hexaphosphate. Anticancer Res 1999;19:3689-93. View abstract.
Vucenik I, Zhang ZS, Shamsuddin AM. IP6 in treatment of liver cancer. II. Intra-tumoral injection of IP6 regresses pre-existing human liver cancer xenotransplanted in nude mice. Anticancer Res 1998;18:4091-6. View abstract.
Zhou JR, Erdman JW Jr. Phytic acid in health and disease. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 1995;35:495-508. View abstract.
