Ellagic acid is a polyphenol that occurs naturally in many foods, such as certain berries and nuts. It has antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral and cancer-preventing properties. Because it has been successfully tested on dogs, you can feel safe administering a dietary supplement of ellagic acid to your dog as a preventive and as an adjunct to conventional cancer treatments.
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Sources of Ellagic Acid
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People can obtain a therapeutic level of ellagic acid from plant foods such as red raspberries, cranberries, strawberries, pomegranates, walnuts and pecans. You can increase your intake of these foods, as well as obtain ellagic acid as a concentrated dietary supplement in capsule form. This is probably the only way you will get your dog to take ellagic acid, as many dogs dislike fruit. Talk to your veterinarian about how to determine the best dose of ellagic acid for your dog based on weight.
What Ellagic Acid Does
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Ellagic acid works by binding to the sites on living cells where cancer-causing agents would attach or to cancer cells themselves. It inhibits the mutations that lead to tumor growth, and arrests the growth of existing tumor cells, thus causing natural cell death. By lowering the secretion of certain enzymes, ellagic acid may also serve to deprive bacteria of food and viruses of host cells, thus helping the body to fight off these threats as well.
Scientific Evidence
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According to the American Cancer Society, animal studies have found that ellagic acid can inhibit the growth of tumors of the skin, esophagus and lung, as well as other tumors caused by carcinogens. Some studies reported that ellegic acid was effective on cervical, breast and liver cancer. ACS also reported that a study in cell cultures found that ellagic acid may act against substances that help tumors to form new blood vessels.
Dosages
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There are many suppliers on the Internet that sell ellagic acid as a dietary supplement. The dosages they recommend vary widely. The Ellagic Acid Alternative Cancer Treatment Comparison recommends between 80 and 90 mg three times a day for a person who weighs about 150 pounds. Your dog's dosage should be adjusted depending on weight. Ask your veterinarian for help with these calculations if you are not sure. It is important to always make your veterinarian aware of any medications or supplements you give your dog.
Cautions
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There are more alternative cancer therapies on the market than one person can reasonably hope to study in a timely manner, and some of them are pure quackery. Although ellagic acid shows some promise in the fight against cancer, ellagic acid is not a cancer cure. At best, it may be a useful addition to an existing cancer regimen, supporting conventional treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Talk to your veterinarian about how to add dietary supplements to your dog's cancer regimen.
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