The findings suggest that vitamin B3 may help strengthen and restore a weakened immune system.
Edward Waldner knew something was wrong. At 55 years old, he felt constantly drained. No matter how much he rested, the fatigue lingered. He began to question whether sleep apnea might be the cause. He also noticed subtle changes in his movement. His heels occasionally dragged when he walked. When his symptoms intensified one day, he decided to seek care at the Emergency Department.
The diagnosis was glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer. Standard treatment typically involves three steps: surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible, followed by radiation and chemotherapy. Despite decades of research and advances in oncology, the disease almost always returns.
Adding vitamin B3 to standard care
Researchers at the University of Calgary are now studying whether high doses of vitamin B3, also known as niacin, could improve outcomes when added to conventional treatment. Waldner was invited to participate in the clinical trial.
“I have no problem trying to help anybody. I agreed. I want to help myself too,” says Waldner. “I can tell you, being part of this research helps me mentally because we’re trying. When I left the hospital after surgery, I was told, that’s it, that’s all we can do.”
The study is led by Dr. Gloria Roldan Urgoiti, MD, an oncologist specializing in brain cancers, and Dr. Wee Yong, PhD, a neuroscientist who studies immune responses in the brain. Both are affiliated with the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute. Their goal is to determine whether niacin can restore the function of weakened immune cells so they can better attack tumor cells.
The research began with laboratory experiments in mice, where niacin was shown to extend survival. Those findings laid the groundwork for a Phase I and II clinical trial in patients.
