View source for Poly-MVA

{{Short description|Multi-component dietary supplement}}
'''Poly-MVA''' (or '''Lipoic Acid Mineral Complex''') is a dietary supplement created by Merrill Garnett (1931&ndash;), a former dentist turned biochemist. Poly-MVA is an unproven [[alternative medicine|alternative]] cancer treatment.<ref name=acs>{{cite book |publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |title=American Cancer Society Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies |edition=2nd |year=2009 |isbn=9780944235713 |veditors=Russell J, Rovere A |pages=[https://archive.org/details/americancancerso0000unse/page/804 804–807] |chapter=Poly-MVA |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/americancancerso0000unse/page/804 }}</ref>

== Description ==
The "MVA" in "Poly-MVA" means "minerals vitamins and amino acids".<ref name=acs/> Poly-MVA contains [[lipoic acid]], [[acetylcysteine]], [[palladium]], [[vitamin B|B vitamins]], and other ingredients.<ref name=mskcc>{{cite book |vauthors=Cassileth BR, Yeung KS, Gubili J |title=Herb-drug Interactions in Oncology |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=etCkDPOW_oMC&pg=PA536 |year=2010 |publisher=PMPH-USA |isbn=978-1-60795-041-7 |page=536 |chapter=Polydox}}</ref> The substance is red-brown liquid that is taken by mouth.<ref name=acs/>

In 2004, a year's supply of Poly-MVA was reported as costing US$19,800.<ref name=whl>{{cite journal |title=Is this cancer-fighting supplement too good to be true? |journal= Women's Health Letter |issue=May |year=2004 |page=4}}</ref> As of 2019, the cost appears to fluctuate according to an individual's situation and dosage.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Poly-MVA: A New Supplement in the Fight Against Cancer|last=Milne, MD|first=Robert D.|publisher=Basic Health Publications. Inc.|year=2004|isbn=1591200490}}</ref>

== Alternative medicine ==

Poly-MVA is promoted with claims that it can treat a variety of human diseases, including [[cancer]] and [[HIV/AIDS]].<ref name=acs/> The promotional effort is supported by customer testimonials, but there is no [[evidence-based medicine|medical evidence]] that Poly-MVA confers any health benefit and some concern it may inhibit the effectiveness of mainstream cancer treatments if used at the same time.<ref name=acs/><ref name=mskcc/>

In 2005, Poly-MVA was listed as one of the ineffective [[alternative cancer treatments]] being sold by the clinics clustered in and around [[Tijuana, Mexico]].<ref name=moss>{{cite journal|doi=10.1177/1534735404273918|title=Patient Perspectives: Tijuana Cancer Clinics in the Post-NAFTA Era|year=2005|last1=Moss|first1=R. W.|journal=Integrative Cancer Therapies|volume=4|pages=65–86|pmid=15695477|issue=1|doi-access=free}}</ref> None of the information referenced in this review is specific to Poly-MVA.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}

== See also ==
*[[Antioxidant]]
*[[List of unproven and disproven cancer treatments]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Unproven and disproven cancer treatments}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Alternative cancer treatments]]
[[Category:Alternative medicine]]
[[Category:Dietary supplements]]

{{alt-med-stub}}