IP6 is a chemical called inositol hexaphopshate. It is found naturally in high fibre foods such as beans, brown rice and wheat bran.

IP6 is an antioxidant which means that it is a chemical which can block the effects of activated oxygen molecules called 'free radicals' which can cause cell damage which may lead to cancer.

Some laboratory tests on animals have shown some anti-cancer effect for IP6 but there are no human studies to back this up. Many compounds show promise in the treatment of animal or laboratory tumours but fail to show in benefit in people. The limited laboratory studies of IP6 really do not give any proof it will be useful in humans.

Despite these very limited scientific results, enthusiasts claim that IP6 can help in the treatment of many cancers including breast, bowel and prostate cancer. Until proper clinical trials are done there will be no way of proving, or disproving, these claims.

IP6 is available as a supplement, in pill form. There is no evidence that taking the pill is any more effective than using a diet rich in high fibre foods, which will contain large quantities of IP6.

As far as is known there are no damaging side effects from taking IP6 in moderate amounts.

So overall there is little to suggest that IP6 is of value in cancer treatment but eating a high fibre diet  will give you plenty of IP6 without the need for expensive supplements.