Wheat germ is the tiny part of a grain of wheat that produces a sprout when the grain is planted. Wheat germ is rich in protein and a common food additive that increases the nutrient value of cereals and other foods. A fermented extract of wheat germ, fWGE, has properties that make it a possible preventive and treatment for cancer, according to evidence summarized by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Properties: A Hungarian chemist developed the fermentation process to produce fWGE in the 1990s; it soon became a common supplement for cancer patients in Hungary and other eastern European countries. More recently, laboratory studies have shown that the extract increases production by immune cells of compounds that help your body rid itself of malignant cells and prevent the growth of tumors. These compounds belong to a class called cytokines, which include tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and others of this type. In studies of cancer cells in culture, fWGE stops the cells from dividing and causes them to begin a process called apoptosis that causes their death.
Clinical Evidence: Several clinical studies with human subjects at risk for or suffering from cancer have been completed. In one, published in 2008, subjects with melanoma took either fWGE or a placebo and were followed for seven years. Those who consumed the extract had slower progression of their cancer and better survival rates that the group that took a placebo. The authors concluded that fWGE is a good adjunct to conventional cancer therapy. The National Institutes of Health is currently supporting aclinical trial of fWGE as a potential therapy for subjects with prostate cancer.
Availablity: Fermented wheat germ extract is available from many pharmacies and most health food stores, often sold under the trade name Avemar. It is generally considered a very safe supplement, although it may cause problems if you are gluten-intolerant. Talk to your doctor before deciding to add fWGE to your routine to be sure there are no possible interactions with any medications you are currently taking. *
*as published on Examiner.com