When the diet is adequate and vitamin E is amply supplied, wounds can heal without scarring; surgical incisions leave only a thin, soft line free of hard keloid tissue; adhesions can be prevented; and the itching, drawing pain caused by the contraction of scar tissue--excruciating when large areas of flesh have been excised, as after the removal of a cancerous breast--does not occur. By decreasing the need for oxygen, vitamin E allows fewer cells to be harmed when blood vessels have been cut, mangled, or burned; and it increases the number and speed of formation of new blood vessels into a damaged area.

When blood clots normally, hemorrhages are largely prevented and work and anxiety of the surgeon are decreased. Blood clotting involves numerous intricate chemical processes requiring many nutrients, the most important being calcium and vitamins C, E, and K. Because vitamin K is produced by intestinal bacteria, it is rarely lacking except when the bacteria have been destroyed by oral antibiotics or when bile fails to reach the intestine, conditions easily rectified by taking yogurt or acidophilus milk, bile tablets, and lecithin.

Calcium and vitamins C and E, however, are frequently under supplied. Vitamin E "constantly and quickly" shortens the clotting time of bleeders and, provided it is taken continuously, has even prevented hemorrhaging in hemophiliacs studied over a period of many years.

Several studies show that milk sugar, or lactose, tremendously increases the absorption of calcium. Although intestinal bacteria break milk sugar into lactic acid which helps to dissolve calcium, an increased calcium absorption occurs in the presence of milk sugar even when all bacteria have been destroyed by antibiotics. Animals given calcium with milk sugar deposit some calcium in the femur, or leg bone, in 30 minutes and lay down "highly significant amounts" within two hours. If other sugars are allowed, calcium absorption is so markedly decreased that little of the mineral reaches the bones. This fact undoubtedly explains why babies given formulas containing large amounts of dextromaltose or glucose frequently have faulty bone formation which is shown by abnormal bulging foreheads. The excessive intake of sweets during childhood and adolescence causes facial bones to be underdeveloped and the jaws to remain so small that the teeth are crowded together. Similarly, eating sweets can prevent calcium from being absorbed by an adult.

Because of the combined stresses of the broken bone and immobilization of part or all of the body, much body protein is broken down and the urinary losses of nutrients are high. The diet required for repair, therefore, should be particularly rich in protein, all anti-stress factors, vitamin C, and pantothenic acid, as well as calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, oil, and lecithin. One would not expect a normal protein intake to be a limiting factor, yet in one study of 55 persons whose bones refused to knit, giving 160 grams of protein daily as the only dietary improvement brought complete and rapid healing. Digestive enzymes with bile and hydrochloric acid taken with each meal usually accelerate repair; and if the surrounding tissues have been damaged, a high vitamin-E intake prevents scarring and stiffness.

Many studies have shown that persons with this disease have had calcium intakes far below the recommended daily allowances and have often lacked protein and/or enzymes needed to utilize calcium and phosphorus, whereas individuals obtaining ample minerals have normal bones. Usually the calcium intake has been below 500 milligrams daily --the amount obtained from 2 glasses of milk--yet the need for calcium actually increases with age, probably because absorption becomes less efficient. Persons obtaining 1,250 milligrams of calcium daily had much denser bones than ones getting 750 mil1igrams. Most individuals with I osteoporosis have milk and cheese available and can afford calcium supplements, but have rarely been aware of their benefits. Vitamin D, which has been shown to be as important for adults and especially elderly men and women as it is for chi1dren, is often totally lacking. Some patients have excreted excessive amounts of calcium, most have obtained far too much phosphorus, and many have been deficient in vitamin C, but invariably all have obtained too little calcium.

In the United States an estimated 4 million persons over 65 years of age suffer from severe backaches caused by abnormal bones, and their vertebrae frequently fracture merely from the weight of the body itself. Yet the problem, which can be brought on by stress and/or inadequate diet at any age, is by no means confined to the elderly. This widespread abnormality occurs in undernourished children and adults of all economic brackets, is common in young women after induced menopause and older ones following natural menopause, and in almost every person over the age of 60. It starts with the inadequate formulas given to babies, and that millions more backaches are in the making. The tragedy is that people are unaware that such a problem exists. It has long been assumed that porous bones are an inevitable part of growing older, but bones of well-fed animals become progressively stronger with age.

Only a pittance of the millions spent on cancer research has been used for nutritional investigation. The effect of different diets, however, has been studied by giving them to strains of mice that develop spontaneous malignancies; and to animals into which growing cancer tissue has been transplanted or active cancer cells have been injected. Malignant tumors have also been induced in variously fed animals by x-rays or by such materials as thyroid, mineral oil, estrogen, stilbestrol, arsenic, coal-tar or azo dyes, and dozens of other substances.

Probably malnutrition invariably precedes all malignancies; hence large nutritional debts have already been incurred. The shock and terror resulting from a diagnosis of cancer, worry over family and perhaps financial problems, and treatments such as radiation and/or surgery, all add stresses of enormous magnitude. The body requirements are, therefore, so tremendously high that it may be impossible to meet them.

The six small daily meals should be high in adequate protein, low in calories, moderate in fat, and supply generous amounts of all anti-stress factors and all nutrients that appear to inhibit malignant growth. Particularly in Hodgkin's disease, or cancer of the lymph glands, the anti-stress formula should be taken around the clock indefinitely.

Spontaneous cancers, mostly of the thyroid, have developed in hamsters kept on an iodine-deficient diet, whereas animals receiving adequate iodine remained cancer-free. When rats have been given thyroid or radioactive iodine, the number of spontaneous cancers markedly increased. Cancer of the thyroid is unusually high in countries where the iodine intake is low. In America it decreased after the introduction of iodized salt.

Although over a billion dollars has now been spent on cancer research, the effect of various mineral deficiencies on cancer susceptibility appears to have been studied little. Increasing the copper intake "significantly retarded development" of cancers in animals, and decreased the liver damage and cirrhosis caused by cancer-inducing materials.