Skin Cancer and Melanoma

Skin cancers can arise from various skin layers and cell types. The exposure of the skin to the environment has a special relevance because of a wide variety of carcinogens that can interact directly with the genetic material of the skin cells and increase the risk for skin cancer. Skin cancer can be divided into melanoma and non-melanoma types.

Melanoma is a skin tumor that originates from the melanocytes and ranks as the seventh leading type of cancer in the U.S. The incidence of melanoma is ten times more in Caucasians compared to African Americans. In women the incidence of melanoma is increasing faster than any other cancer, except lung cancer. Excessive sun exposure is considered the principle cause of melanoma. Individuals with fair skin, blue eyes, blonde or red hair are at higher risk for melanoma.

There are two types of non-melanoma skin cancers: basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Basal cell carcinoma, the most common cancer in the U.S. among Caucasians, accounts for 77% of all skin cancers and has the following characteristics: shiny skin, pink color, nodular variant, pigmented basal cell carcinoma, sclerosing. read more...

Squamous cell carcinomas, which are predominantly found in elderly Caucasians, appear on the back of the hand, forearm, and neck; the nodule may be ulcerated and enlarged.

We investigated the effects of a specific micronutrient combination on human melanoma and murine melanoma cell lines using in vitro and in vivo approaches. Our in vitro studies indicate that these micronutrients are effective in inhibiting cancer cells proliferation responsible for tumor growth as well as, their invasion through Matrigel and MMP secretion, which are essential mechanisms of metastasis . In addition, we observed that dietary supplementation with these micronutrients suppressed growth of the xenografted melanoma cells and murine melanoma tumors in nude mice. ...read less

Relevant Publications

Skin Cancer

See publication list

Sarcomas and Malignancies of the Bone

Malignancies of the soft tissues (6%) and bone (5%) account for more than 10% of cancers diagnosed in children, adolescents, and young adults. Benign musculoskeletal neoplasms are one hundred times more common than malignant soft tissue tumors.

  • Fibrosarcoma, an aggressive and highly metastatic cancer of the connective tissue, primarily develops in the metaphyses of long tubular bones, and affects both children and adults. The poor prognosis associated with fibrosarcoma can be attributed to both the aggressive metastatic spread characteristic of this cancer and lack of efficacy in current treatment.
  • Liposarcoma, a malignancy of fat cells, is the most common soft tissue sarcoma with an annual incidence of 2.5% cases per million.
  • Osteosarcoma accounts for about 60% of malignant bone tumors between the ages of 10 to 20. The remaining bone malignancies in children and adolescents are Ewing sarcomas. Ewing sarcomas are histologically similar and identical to peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors.
  • Chondrosarcomas most often affect older adults.
  • Rhabdosarcoma, the most common soft tissue sarcoma is mesenchymal in origin, and affects infants and children up to five years (mostly males).
  • Synovial sarcoma, a soft tissue cancer that most often occurs around leg or arm joints, has a 50% rate of metastasis.

read more...We investigated the effect of micronutrient synergy in vitro on human rhabdosarcoma, liposarcoma and chondrosarcoma cell lines and, in vitro and in vivo on human osteosarcoma, synovial sarcoma and fibrosarcoma cell lines. Click below for scientific publications on these topics.

Our results suggest that a micronutrient mixture containing vitamin C, EGCG, Lysine, Proline and other natural components is effective in inhibiting cancer cells proliferation, secretion of MMPs and cancer invasion through Matrigel in vitro and in inhibiting the tumor growth of grafted saracoma cell lines in nude mice. ...read less

Relevant Publications

Fibrosarcoma

See publication list

Blood cancer (Leukemia)

Leukemia is a type of cancer which affects the bone marrow and is characterized by unrestrained proliferation of white blood cells. Its name “leukemia” means “white blood” since this cancer is characterized by a high number of white cells in the blood, many of which are immature or dysfunctional. 

There are many types of leukemias, many of which develop as an acute (most frequent form in children) or a chronic disease.

Different leukemias have been linked to different causes, such as exposure to ionizing radiation or chemicals such as benzene or tobacco smoke. It can also develop as a consequence of chemotherapy for previous malignacies or viral infections (HTLV-1 virus). Some develop in people with chromosomal abnormalities or other genetic abnormalities. read more...

Leukemia leads to the formation of metastatic colonies in other organs which requires a penetration of cancer cells through matrix barriers and blood vessel walls, a process mediated through MMPs

We investigated the effects of micronutrients on a number of human leukemia cells, including Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), a fatal disease with an average survival time of less than one year, and  murine leukemia cells. In addition to using the micronutrient mixture we investigated the anti-cancer effects of some of its components individually, such as vitamin C, lysine and EGCG from green tea.

We have evaluated the effects of these micronutrients on limiting leukemia cancer cell growth, triggering the natural elimination of cancer cells by the induction of apoptosis (cell suicide), and decreasing cancer invasiveness by inhibition of  MMP secretion. In addition to the in vitro studies we also investigated the effects of micronutrient synergy on suppression of the tumor growth in nude mice.

Our results suggest that a specific combination of micronutrients containing vitamin C, Lysine, green tea extract rich in EGCG, and other natural components, is a promising new therapeutic agent for leukemia, and is a potential candidate for human trials. ...read less

Relevant Publications

Leukemia

See publication list

Blood Cancer

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Cellular Medicine in Other Disorders

Health is determined by the function of millions of cells composing the human body. The most frequent cause of cellular malfunction is a chronic deficiency of essential nutrients in the form of vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and trace elements.

The majority of the body’s proteins are composed of collagen, elastin, and other connective tissue components. Their production is regulated by vitamin C and the amino acids lysine and proline, which the body does not produce. Cellular Medicine identifies the optimum daily intake of these and other essential nutrients needed for health, and the application of this knowledge will reduce the incidence of heart disease, cancer, degenerative diseases and other serious health conditions.

Relevant Publications

Bone Health

See publication list

Other Research

See publication list

 

Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis 

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the synovium, or lining of the joints. Arthritis patients suffer from over production of synovial fluid which causes a painful swelling of the jointd and other symptoms such as stiffness, warmth, redness and swelling at the joints. In rheumatoid arthritis, the extracellular matrix or synovial membrane lining in the joint becomes inflamed. Over time, the inflammation process leads to the destruction of collagen and other components of the joint tissues, causing disability. In patients with this disease, connective tissue digesting enzymes, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), are expressed in synovial membranes and their excessive secretion has been implicated in synovial tissue destruction.

Our studies indicated that selected micronutrients working in synergy are effective in inhibiting the secretion of MMPs by the synovial fibroblasts and in halting cellular invasion to surrounding tissues, thereby modulating tissue destruction. This suggests the beneficial potential of these nutrients in various aspects of rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis 

Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, is a disease of the cartilage in the joint, characterized by continuous breakdown of cartilage, causing damage to the tissue and underlying bone. Breakdown of the cartilage increases mechanical stress on the bones, causing pain. The underlying bone can thicken and in time the joint can even become malformed, restricting movement. 

Current thinking is that these changes are due to up-regulation of cartilage (chondrocytes) mediated secretion of MMPs, which in turn leads to progressive breakdown of cartilage.

Studies carried out our institute have shown that micronutrients are very effective in inhibiting the secretion of MMPs in human chondrocytes and in preventing their ability to invade surrounding collagen matrix.  These nutrients can be beneficial in osteoarthritis and other conditions related to excessive cartilage degradation.

 

Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases pose a severe health threat for all nations, especially in economically challenged countries. Emerging infectious diseases such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, and the earlier bird flu or swine flu are posing an impending global threat.

Conventional treatments of infectious diseases based on expensive pharmaceutical drugs have limited efficacy and are often associated with serious side effects.

People are constantly exposed to infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, and other foreign invaders, however only some get sick. It has been established that susceptibility to infections is affected by nutrition status and a healthy lifestyle. It is well known that the function of immune system, such as production of white blood cells and antibodies, requires a variety of micronutrients including vitamin C, the B vitamins, selenium, zinc, and many others. These and other natural compounds can also affect infectious agents directly impairing their metabolism and spread in the body. However, micronutrient requirements are largely ignored in preventive and therapeutic aspects of infections despite their representing a safe and cost-effective approach especially, where nutrient abnormalities or malnutrition are underlying causes.

Cellular medicine research has demonstrated the power and potency of natural compounds in blocking the multiplication and spread of infectious agents linked to the most recent SARS -CoV-2 infections the cause of COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other viral infections including human influenza, bird flu, and AIDS. Our studies, including clinical research, also document the efficacy of micronutrients against bacterial infections such as Lyme disease (Borreliosis), tuberculosis, and Streptococcus infections associated with gum and dental problems.

Here, we summarize the important findings from our research on novel micronutrient-based approaches effective in the natural control of infectious diseases and supporting immune system function.

Cellular Medicine in Heart Disease

Why Cholesterol Is Not the Cause of Heart Disease

Dr. Rath’s discovery of the vitamin C-scurvy-heart disease connection and our latest research shed new light on the role of cholesterol in heart disease.


LpaLDLHigh blood cholesterol can lead to cardiovascular deposits only when combined with the loss of the integrity and functional weakness of the blood vessel walls. Weakened arterial wall structure triggers the need for its biological repair. The most common cause of vascular wall dysfunction and an increase in vascular endothelial gaps allowing for infiltration of large biological molecules (Lp(a) and LDL) is a long-term deficiency of vitamin C and other micronutrients (vitamin B6, Copper, Lysine, etc.). These micronutrient deficiencies can lead to insufficient production or impaired structure of collagen, the protein which forms the basic structure of blood vessels. Such structural weakness is first manifested in the blood vessel wall areas exposed to highest mechanical stress, such as the coronary arteries. In this situation, vascular deposition of blood lipoproteins, in particular Lipoprotein(a), works like a biological “plaster” reinforcing factor.


According to this new understanding, high blood cholesterol is a “consequence” of, not the “cause” of, heart disease.


This concept also answers why heart attacks are the leading cause of death in humans, but are an exception in the animal world. All animals, with only a few exceptions, produce large quantities of vitamin C in their bodies (2-20 grams/day) to support optimum collagen production necessary for maintaining healthy and elastic blood vessels. A high level of endogenous vitamin C production protects animal arteries from damage and development of atherosclerotic deposits. This is why animals do not die of heart attacks, even if some, such as bears, have very high blood cholesterol levels (600 mg/dl). In contrast, humans lost the ability of vitamin C production, and its daily dietary intake is often insufficient to assure optimum vascular health. For humans, the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for vitamin C is 60-80 mg/day.

A summary of Dr. Rath’s groundbreaking discovery is outlined in a PDF Cholesteral discovery, and it is also presented in his popular book Why Animals Don’t Get Heart Attacks, But People Do!

Cardiovascular Research at the Dr. Rath Research Institute

Our research in the area of cardiovascular disease focuses on the health-beneficial effects of vitamins and essential nutrients in various aspects of cardiovascular disease, its initiation, and stepwise progression.


Our researchers developed a new mouse model (GULO-/-;Lp(a)+) which has two characteristics of human metabolism: the expression of Lipoprotein(a) and the lack of endogenous vitamin C (ascorbate) production. We showed that dietary deficiency of vitamin C resulted in increased serum levels of Lp(a). Moreover, chronic suboptimal intake of vitamin C and its complete depletion (scurvy) leads to Lp(a) accumulation in the vascular wall and parallels atherosclerotic lesion development. Our results confirm that dietary vitamin C deficiency is a risk factor for atherosclerosis independent of dietary lipids. Our scientific work supports the concept that Lp(a) functions as a mobile repair molecule compensating for the structural impairment of the vascular wall, a morphological hallmark of hypoascorbemia and scurvy.

Among other projects, we have been investigating the role of nutrients in controlling abnormal migration and the growth of smooth muscle cells in the arterial wall, a hallmark of atheroma development and growth. We are also studying how nutrient synergy can be applied to curb inflammation leading to arterial wall cell damage and blood leukocyte recruitment. We have shown that nutrient synergy is more effective than individual antioxidants in decreasing oxidative stress associated with endothelial and smooth muscle cell damage, and lipid and lipoprotein oxidation and their intra-arterial wall accumulation.

A significant part of our efforts have been concentrated on applying nutrient synergy in controlling pathological aspects of the remodeling of the extracellular matrix in the arterial wall. Such pathology leads to lost integrity and weakening of arterial wall structure, impaired arterial contractility, lipoprotein retention and oxidation, pathological behavior of arterial wall resident cells, increased plaque instability and the risk of its rupture.

Our other research areas include the aspects of sex hormone imbalance in the development of cardiovascular disease, as well as the cardiovascular aspects of impaired glucose metabolism (diabetes mellitus). Our research findings have contributed to a better understanding of nutrient synergy in controlling uterine smooth muscle tissue contractility (important in preventing miscarriage) and in autoimmune mechanism-mediated impairment of bronchial smooth muscle tissue contractility (asthma).

 

Studies in Heart Disease

Publications in Heart disease

 

Research Projects in Cellular Medicine

 

Health is determined by the function of millions of cells composing the human body. The most frequent cause of cellular malfunction is a chronic deficiency of essential nutrients in the form of vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and trace elements.

 The majority of the body’s proteins are composed of collagen, elastin, and other connective tissue components. Their production is regulated by vitamin C and the amino acids lysine and proline, which the body does not produce.

Cellular Medicine identifies the optimum daily intake of these and other essential nutrients needed for health, and the application of this knowledge will reduce the incidence of heart disease, cancer, degenerative diseases and other serious health conditions.

Dr. Niedzwiecki's Biography

Dr. Aleksandra Niedzwiecki has been instrumental in the development and growth of Cellular Medicine research. She is a leading biomedical researcher in the development of nutritional approaches in various aspects of health and disease.

Dr. Niedzwiecki has a doctorate degree in biochemistry from the University of Warsaw, Poland, where she started her research and academic career. Her wide scientific interests have been pursued at the world’s leading universities, such as the Rockefeller University in New York (research conducted with the Nobel Laureate G. M. Edelman) and the University of Toronto in Canada. Dr. Niedzwiecki’s areas of scientific expertise include molecular aspects of aging, cellular metabolism, nutrition, cardiovascular disease, cancer and others. read more about Dr. Aleksandra Niedzwiecki

She is the former Head of Cardiovascular Research at the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine in California. Her work with the laureate of two Nobel Prizes, the late Dr. Linus Pauling, provided significant reinforcement to Dr. Rath’s groundbreaking approach to heart disease.

During her scientific career, Dr. Niedzwiecki has been inspired by Dr. Rath’s scientific ideas, which were instrumental in shifting her research focus to the field of micronutrients and cardiovascular disease. She has been working with Dr Rath for about 15 years in developing and implementing various research projects and ideas. Currently she is working in the capacity of the CEO and Director of Research at the Dr. Rath Research Institute in California.

Throughout her career, Dr. Niedzwiecki has won numerous awards and research grants for her research into the biochemical link between disease and nutrients. She has over 90 original research contributions published in prestigious professional journals, including the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Arteriosclerosis, and Molecular Cell Biology, as book chapters and other scientific and popular research publications. Together with Dr. Rath she has been deeply involved in natural health education efforts worldwide. She has conducted numerous scientific and public presentations in the US, Germany, Holland, Poland, Greece, South Africa and other countries, and has published numerous monographs, and articles about various aspects of health.

She is a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition and a member of the American Heart Association, American Medical Women’s Association, Council on Arteriosclerosis, the American Society for Cell Biology and the American Academy for the Advancement of Science.

Dr. Niedzwiecki’s leadership and insights at the Dr. Rath Research Institute are helping to propel the research breakthroughs in the area of Cellular Medicine. ...read less

Meet the Research Team

Dr. Rath’s scientific discoveries are the basis for the innovative clinical and nutritional research being conducted by world-class scientists at the 23,000 square foot state-of-the-art Dr. Rath Research Institute. There, they conduct academic research in Cellular Medicine, Dr. Rath’s innovative approach to health.

Aleksandra Niedzwiecki, Ph.D. Aleksandra Niedzwiecki, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Director of Research

Dr. Niedzwiecki has been instrumental in the development and growth of Cellular Medicine research. Dr. Niedzwiecki is a leading biomedical researcher in the development of nutritional therapies for the treatment of diseases. She has a doctorate degree in biochemistry from the University of Warsaw, Poland. Dr. Niedzwiecki has held research faculty positions at Rockefeller University in New York, the University of Toronto, and the University of Warsaw.

She is the former director of cardiovascular research at the prestigious Linus Pauling Institute, formerly located in California. Dr. Niedzwiecki has conducted groundbreaking research in the molecular biology of aging, cellular metabolism, and cardiovascular disease. She has directly worked with the Nobel Laureates Linus Pauling and G.M. Edelman. Dr. Niedzwiecki has been an invited speaker at numerous conferences and scientific meetings, and she has published over 70 scientific publications in respected professional journals, written chapters in books, and authored several popular research articles. For the last 13 years, Dr. Niedzwiecki has been a close associate of Dr. Rath in conducting Cellular Medicine research. She is a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition and a member of the American Heart Association, the American Medical Women’s Association and other professional organizations. Read the Biography of Aleksandra Niedzwiecki, Ph.D. ...hide content

Vadim Ivanov, Ph.D, M.D. Vadim Ivanov, Ph.D, M.D.
Senior Researcher

Dr. Ivanov holds a medical degree from Tomsk Medical Academy in Tomsk, Russia and doctorate degree in Biochemistry from the National Cardiology Center in Moscow, Russia. He worked as a Senior Researcher at the National Cardiology Center, and subsequently worked at the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine in Palo Alto, California. He joined the Dr. Rath Research Institute as a Senior Researcher in 2000.

Dr. Ivanov has authored more than 40 scientific papers, and he has presented at over 100 national and international professional meetings. Dr. Ivanov is a member of the American College of Nutrition and the American Heart Association. His major scientific field of interest is the molecular and cellular mechanisms of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Dr. Ivanov’s current research interests include nutritional approaches in the prevention and treatment of chronic human diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cancer. ...hide content

M. Waheed Roomi, Ph.D.; DABT M. Waheed Roomi, Ph.D.; DABT
Senior Researcher

Dr. Roomi earned a doctorate degree in Biochemical Toxicology from the University of Surrey, England, and is a Fellow of American College of Nutrition. He is certified by the American Board of Toxicology (DABT) and American College of Nutrition (CNS). Dr. Roomi worked at the Linus Pauling Institute in Palo Alto, California for five years before joining the Dr. Rath Research Institute as a Senior Research Officer in 2000. His research interests include cancer, drug metabolism, environmental and occupational toxicology, organic synthesis, the molecular mechanism of toxicity and free radical and oxidative damage. Dr. Roomi has published approximately 150 papers in international journals, and he has presented at over 150 national and international meetings, written chapters in book and author of several popular articles. He is a member of the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR), the Federation of American Society of Experimental Biology (FASEB), the Society of Toxicology (SOT) and the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP). ...hide content

Bilwa Bhanap, M.D. Bilwa Bhanap, M.D.

Dr. Bhanap has earned her medical degree from University of Nagpur, India. Prior to joining Dr. Rath's Research Institute, she was a practicing physician and has worked in hospitals as well as at outpatient medical practice. She is certified in Clinical Trials Design and Management from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She has conducted many educational outreach programs across the US presenting Dr. Rath’s research to patients and health practitioners. In addition to her numerous education projects and research, Dr. Bhanap provides patients with valuable information about various aspects of natural health. ...hide content

Anna Goc, Ph.D. Anna Goc, Ph.D.  

Dr. Goc obtained her Ph.D. from the Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland. She conducted her postdoctoral training at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH and the University of Georgia, Athens, GA. She also worked as a Research Biologist WOC at the VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA. Dr. Goc has published over 30 papers including 2 book chapters, and she presented her research at various national and international meetings. She is the recipient of numerous national and international awards.

Dr. Goc has wide-ranging knowledge of molecular biology, biochemistry and cell biology in the fields of microbiology, immunology, cancer, and vascular biology. Currently, she is the leading investigator on a Lyme disease research project. ...hide content

Maddy Chatterjee, Ph.D. Maddy Chatterjee, Ph.D.  

Dr. Chatterjee completed her Ph.D. at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts. In her doctoral work she investigated tissue damage and intestinal responses to bacterial pathogens and chemical oxidants. She has worked on several research projects in the field of microbiology and genetics. Her research interests include nutrition, cell biology and gene regulation. Her current research focus is in the field of cancer. ...hide content

Svetlana Ivanova, M.D. Svetlana Ivanova, M.D.  

Dr. Ivanova graduated from the Tomsk Medical Institute in Russia specializing in medical and clinical biochemistry. She worked in this field at the National Cardiology Center in Moscow and in a joint venture with a European company. Later, she joined a research team at the Linus Pauling Institute in the United States and she continues her work in the field of natural approaches to heart disease at the Dr. Rath Research Institute in California. Dr. Ivanova is a co-author of numerous scientific publications and currently works on the role of micronutrients in maintaining optimum function of extracellular matrix. ...hide content

Lei Shi M.Sc. Lei Shi M.Sc.  

Lei completed her Bachelors degree in Biotechnology in China and received her Masters from the University of Nevada, Reno. She assisted in research on anti-cancer effects of fungal natural products and participated in a research project on poisonous plants at the USDA ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory in Utah. At the Dr. Rath Research Institute Lei works on transgenic research projects, cardiovascular and Alzheimer’s disease research and assists in various scientific experiments. ...hide content

Parthena Boulikas B.SParthena Boulikas B.S  

Parthena Boulikas was born and raised in Greece. She studied French in Switzerland and Biology in Canada. She worked as a researcher at the Linus Pauling Institute and then in biopharmaceutical companies including Johnson & Johnson and Delpor. Her work among other focused on injectable and subcutaneous implantable drug delivery of cancer, antipsychotic and other biopharmaceuticals. Currently, she is a member of the Dr. Rath Research Institute research team investigating the role of nutrients in prevention of various diseases. ...hide content

Waldemar Sumera M.Sc. Waldemar Sumera M.Sc.  

Waldemar Sumera graduated from the Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Poland. During his Master’s degree studies, in the Laboratory of Experimental Hematology and Toxicology, he was involved in the projects investigating distribution and physiological importance of nerves in bone marrow, primarily in the aspect of hematopoiesis. At the Dr. Rath Research Institute he is engaged in microbiology research focused on dental biofilm and application of natural compounds in the prevention and treatment of oral diseases. ...hide content

Research

The Dr. Rath Research Institute in Santa Clara, California was founded by Matthias Rath, MD, a researcher and medical doctor who made significant scientific breakthroughs in the area of natural health. His close friend, two-time Nobel Prize laureate and a pioneer in vitamin C research, the late Dr. Linus Pauling stated that Dr. Rath’s discoveries will be considered as the most important in the 20th Century.

The Dr. Rath Research Institute, led today by a long time associate of Dr. Rath, Dr. Aleksandra Niedzwiecki, PhD, has become a world leader in natural health science and the pioneer in developing micronutrient synergy-based health approaches.

Our Institute: Our Institute:   

Our researchers use state of the art scientific equipment and methodology to gain better insight into how natural substances work in our body’s cells and to develop and test the most effective combinations of natural substances that can benefit our health ...hide content

Our Researchers: Our Researchers:   

Headed by Dr. Aleksandra Niedzwiecki our unique research team comprises the best experts in the fields of cardiology, cancer, microbiology, toxicology, molecular biology and other areas with an extensive knowledge of micronutrients and nutrition science. Most of our scientists previously worked at the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine in California at the time when it was led by the two-time Nobel laureate Dr. Linus Pauling. ...hide content

Our Scientific Record: Our Scientific Record: 
Scientific progress obtained by our Institute’s researchers has gained worldwide recognition. Our studies have been published in over hundred reputable peer-reviewed scientific journals and as book chapters as well as presented at numerous national and international scientific and medical conferences.

The innovative work of our scientific team is being recognized by others in the form of scientific cooperation with various internationally reputable research and clinical institutions, personal invitations to speak at prestigious scientific conferences, and reviews of research work conducted by other researchers.  Many graduate students and scientists from all over the world have been contacting us to conduct research at our Institute to gain the firsthand knowledge of innovative natural health approaches ...hide content

Our Achievements: Our Achievements: 

For the first time in the history of medicine we provided clinical proof that heart disease can be stopped and even reversed by a natural program of micronutrients essential for maintaining healthy function of the blood vessel walls 

We were the first to show that heart disease is not a high cholesterol problem, but the consequence of chronic deficiency of vitamin C and other micronutrients in the blood vessel walls 

We were the first to develop a new approach effective in stopping the spread of cancer in the body. In more than 90 scientific publications we documented that a natural program comprising vitamins, amino acids, polyphenols and other essential nutrients can stop cancer metastasis – the deadliest stage of cancer. In addition, this program can halt the growth of tumors, and decrease the growth of blood vessels that feed the tumor and thus induce the natural death of cancer cells. 

We were the first to introduce the “nutrient synergy” approach as the most effective and balanced way to maximize the health benefits of micronutrients. Our natural programs use carefully selected and scientifically tested combinations of micronutrients based on their synergistic effects.

Our research was instrumental in documenting the benefits of micronutrients in AIDS and in unraveling the economic basis of the pharmaceutical business with AIDS. (http://www.dr-rath-foundation.org The results of our community project in South Africa  documenting the benefits of  macronutrients in decreasing and halting the progression of AIDS in patients suffering from HIV/AIDS, http://www.dr-rath-foundation.org/nat_vit/index.html , have been recently confirmed. ...hide content

Importance of Research and Public Education for the Future of Natural Health: Importance of Research and Public Education for the Future of Natural Health: 

Research is the most effective tool in supporting the efficacy of natural approaches to health and enforcing the credibility of the entire natural health industry. Research is also the most powerful weapon in defending natural health against the attacks launched by its opponents. Our Research Institute is leading in public natural health education through innovative approaches such as interactive BodyXQ program, power point modules and recently launched Health Science News Page (HSNP). All available online free of charge. ...hide content

Dr Rath’s leadership in science and social-responsibility together with an established record and the scientific advancements of the Dr Rath Research Institute are the vanguard of the natural health movement.

Toxicology Projects

Environmental, Occupational and Clinical

Toxicology is an area of scientific research concerned which the study of the adverse effects of various chemicals and other agents on living organisms. Our studies in this field do not only evaluate toxic effects of various substances on cellular metabolism and entire organisms, but also search for natural solutions to alleviate or eliminate these detrimental effects.
 
The dose of a substance differentiates a poison from a remedy. The most known example of this are pharmaceutical drugs, which are artificial compounds that the body recognizes as toxins. Even a slightly higher dose of a drug can cause serious adverse reactions and even death. Both humans and animals are constantly exposed to a variety of chemical compounds in the air, water, soil and food. Many of these substances were not tested for health hazards and the risk of various diseases, such as cancer, heart diseases, allergies and others. Many working in certain professions are also exposed to increased health risks associated with occupational hazards.

We have been conducting studies investigating the mechanisms of detoxification of chemicals of environmental, occupational and clinical origins.

Our studies have demonstrated that a diet enriched with a mixture of specific micronutrients (Vitamin C, amino acids, minerals, bioflavonoids) offers significantly better protection against liver and kidney damage caused by the exposure to acetaminophen (a common ingredient in anti-pain and anti-fever drugs), and occupational toxins such as carbon tetrachloride and lead nitrate.

Other studies in progress include:

  • Air, water, agricultural and food pollutants
  • Chemicals in the workplace
  • Naturally occurring toxins
  • Therapeutic drugs and drug of abuse
  • Inorganic chemicals

Relevant Publications

See publication list

Inflammation

Inflammation is a complex process that accompanies and aggravates many chronic pathological conditions, such as arthritis, asthma, atherosclerosis, and many others. Our studies indicate that the various cellular mechanisms and biological signals involved in inflammation can be naturally controlled by a combination of vitamins, amino acids and selected bioflavonoids acting in biological synergy.

Inflammation is the body’s response to a tissue injury or an invasion by foreign agents, such as viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms. It is a protective mechanism that our body uses to remove the pathological agent and initiate tissue repair. However, this is a temporary mechanism and inflammation can turn into pathology if it becomes excessive and chronic. Long lasting inflammation can trigger cascades of various biological signal responses which initiate abnormal cellular activities in neighboring tissues and cells leading to damage of healthy cells and tissue.

The process of inflammation involves a variety of locally produced molecules. These so called inflammatory mediators include substances which are present in our blood plasma such as the enzyme plasmin and other components involved in blood coagulation and histamine release. There are also cellular mediators released by the white blood cells and they include various substances such as leukotrienes, prostaglandins, cytokines, interleukins, and many others. Many anti-inflammatory drugs function by preventing the formation of those mediators or by blocking their actions on the target cells whose behavior is modified by the mediators.

Inflammation can occur suddenly as an acute reaction, such as a response to injury. The symptoms are heat, redness, swelling, and pain in the affected area. Inflammation can also persist for a long time in relation to lasting infection, ulceration, irritation or autoimmune disease, and can become a chronic process. Such inflammation is often the foundation for many chronic degenerative diseases that take years to develop. Chronic inflammation in the joints leads to arthritis, in the membranes around the heart to pericarditis, and in the stomach it causes gastritis. Inflammation accompanies chronic pain, asthma, multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis, cancer, and many other diseases.

Conventional medicine: Patients suffering from inflammatory disorders often take painkillers in order to alleviate the pain. While these drugs can decrease the suffering from pain, they do not eliminate the cause of the inflammation. Treatments that target inflammation involve the use of synthetic steroids and a family of “non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs” (NSAIDS) both of which have many undesirable side effects. NSAIDS are widely used especially for a variety of muscle and joint problems. These drugs inhibit the enzymes that are necessary for the formation of prostaglandins. While they may help in relieving symptoms they also have negative health effects. The most serious and life threatening side effect of NSAIDS are gastrointestinal complications, such as bleeding. A new class of drugs called COX2 inhibitors (such as VIOXX) was not associated with this problem; however, VIOXX was taken off the market because it increased the risk of death from heart attacks.

Cellular medicine research: Various scientific studies have shown that proper nutrition helps in controlling inflammation and that some micronutrient deficiencies (i.e., vitamin A) can aggravate inflammatory responses.

The focus of cellular medicine research has been not so much on individual natural components, but on developing nutrient synergies that can address various pathological processes at the cellular level. By using specifically selected nutrients many processes can be affected simultaneously and their synergy allows achievement of superior effects with lower doses of individual nutrients.

We have documented the anti-inflammatory effects of a micronutrient mixture composed of vitamin C, various amino acids, and green tea phenolics, in human aortic smooth muscle cells. These findings are important in relation to inflammation processes associated with the progression of atherosclerosis.

In addition, we have demonstrated in vivo that a mixture of selected micronutrients enriched with citrus flavonoids such as hesperidin, naringinin and quercetin, was effective in a significant reduction of various inflammatory mediators and cytokines in systemic inflammation. The results have shown that micronutrient supplementation provided better protection against inflammation than ibuprofen and it resulted in reduced expression of COX2 and various other inflammatory cytokines. It is important to note that while pharmaceutical COX2 inhibitors carry a risk of life threatening side effects, micronutrients are safe and provide additional health benefits.

 

Relevant Publications

See publication list

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