Does Asparagus Prevent or Cure Cancer?

I have recently been involved with efforts to raise money for the American Cancer Society through their annual Relay for Life event and other programs. However, I recently had an interesting conversation with a very good friend who suggested that we were “wasting our time working with the American Cancer Society.” She went on to explain that a cure for cancer has existed for years and that ACS is hiding this information from the public. “Asparagus cures and prevents cancer” she said. She further indicated that she had a relative who had full-blown pancreatic cancer who was completely healed through the use of asparagus therapy.

Of course, upon hearing this, red flags when up all over the place. Miracle cure? Conspiracy? Is it possible that asparagus prevents and cures cancer and this information has been kept from the public because “they” do not want you to know about it? It was time to investigate.

It turns out that a story making these exact claims first started circulating the internet in October of 2006 according to Snopes.com. The article – which is lengthy – begins as follows:

Several years ago, I had a man seeking asparagus for a friend who had cancer. He gave me a photocopied copy of an article, entitled, `Asparagus for cancer' printed in Cancer News Journal, December 1979. I will share it here, just as it was shared with me:

"I am a biochemist, and have specialized in the relation of diet to health for over 50 years. Several years ago, I learned of the discovery of Richard R. Vensal, D.D.S. that asparagus might cure cancer. Since then, I have worked with him on his project, and we have accumulated a number of favorable case histories. Here are a few examples.

Case No. 1, man with an almost hopeless case of Hodgkin's disease (cancer of the lymph glands) who was completely incapacitated. Within 1 year of starting the asparagus therapy, his doctors were unable to detect any signs of cancer, and he was back on a schedule of strenuous exercise.

Case No. 2, a successful businessman 68 years old who suffered from cancer of the bladder for 16 years. After years of medical treatments, including radiation without improvement, he went on asparagus. Within 3 months, examinations revealed that his bladder tumor had disappeared and that his kidneys were normal.

Etc…

According to numerous sources, the article - “Asparagus for Cancer” cited above from 1979 - does not exist although a similar article was published in a 1974 edition of Prevention magazine. In addition, these sources have been unable to discern the identity of Richard R. Vensal, D.D.S. And, as a Doctor of Dental Science, it is not clear that he would have the appropriate expertise to make the claims presented in the article above. However, the ultimate question is this: Does asparagus prevent or cure cancer?

No. Clinical studies have tested this proposition and there is no evidence that it is true. To be sure, asparagus does have health value. The Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board calls it "one of the most nutritionally well-balanced vegetables in existence" because  it is high in content of folic acid, potassium, thiamin, and fiber.  In other words, asparagus may be darn good for you, but it cannot prevent or cure cancer. The "miracle cure" claim is bogus.

And this is what it all boils down to. It is one thing to say that asparagus has health benefits, which apparently it does, but it is another thing to use testimonial evidence to make the claim that it cures or prevents cancer. As I have said before, it is all about the evidence. Where are the clinical studies that show these miraculous benefits? Where is the peer-reviewed research? Such conclusive evidence is nonexistent and unless we buy into the idea that universities and corporate research institutions are part of a massive cover-up of this important information (which would be impossible, by the way) we must put this proposition in the trash bin of bad ideas.

Stan Monroe