Suppression of lung and liver carcinogenesis in mice by oral administration of myo-inositol

Ir has been reported that myo-inositol can inhibit carcinogenesis in variou s organs, such as the mammary gland, colon and lung. In the present study, at first, inhibitory effects of Inyo-inositol on lung carcinogenesis were c onfirmed. Then, the influence of myo-inositol on liver carcinogenesis in mi ce was investigated. In C3H/He male mice, the rate of spontaneous liver car cinogenesis is known to be high. Using this experimental model, the effects of oral administration of myo-inositol (added into thr drinking water at t he concentration of 1%) were assessed Significant suppression of liver carc inogenesis was observed in mice treated with myo-inositol for 40 weeks. In the control group without myo-inositol administration, 88% of the animals d eveloped liver tumors, whereas in the myo-inositol-supplemented group, the incidence of liver tumors was 38% (p<0.05). The average number of liver tum ors per mouse was also decreased significantly by myo-inositol treatment; f rom 7.8 in the control group to 0.8 in the myo-inositol-supplemented group) (p<0.01). Thus, myo-inositol may be useful for cancel chemoprevention in t he liver; as well as the lung.