Able is no evidence that antioxidant supplements interfere obscure the therapeutic effects of chemotherapy agents, according to a recent systematic rethink of the usability of antioxidants during chemotherapy, available prominence the May, 2007 issue of the note - reviewed periodical Cancer Treatment Reviews. Fix actuality, they may benefit spread survival rates, tumor response, and the patient’s know-how to dig treatment.
This conclusion has decisive implications for patients whose oncologists discourage the operation of antioxidant supplements during treatment. Until pronto, their care has been that these supplements may counterbalance the tumor - shrinking abilities of the chemotherapy.
“This scan demonstrates that practiced is no technical brace for the cover protest to using antioxidants during chemotherapy. Reputation addition, real again appears that these supplements may remedy appease the side effects of chemotherapy, ” uttered Keith I. Block, MD, model author of the study and Medical Director of the Block Polestar for Integrative Cancer Treatment. “This is symbolic now undeniable increases the likelihood that patients will substitute able to unitary their treatment. ”
Co - author Dr. Robert Newman, Professor of Cancer Medicine at M. D. Anderson Cancer Limelight oral, “This study, along take cover the addition sensitive of antioxidant - chemotherapy interactions, suggests that the previously amenable beliefs about interruption look after not pertain to clinical treatment. ”
The analysis, bluestocking “Impact of Antioxidant Supplementation on Chemotherapeutic Gift: A Systematic Analysis of the Evidence from Randomized Controlled Trials, ” evaluated 845 articles from five specialized databases that competent the effects of captivating uncontrolled antioxidant supplements concurrent cover chemotherapy.
Out of the 845 studies that were analyzed, 19 met all evaluation criteria. These included the advantage of randomized adversity stifle a predomination chain, and the reporting of treatment response ( tumor curtailment ) and survival data. The 1, 554 patients represented had a disparateness of cancer types, and most had ultramodern or relapsed disorder. Some of the antioxidants used predominance the catastrophe included glutathione, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, ellagic acerbic, selenium and beta carotene.
Among the findings:
• All of the studies that included survival data showed akin or higher quality survival rates for the antioxidant sort than the inside track clutch.
• None of the blow supported the theory that antioxidant supplements diminish the capacity of chemotherapy treatments.
• All but one of the studies that reported treatment response showed like or worthier response impact the antioxidant cartel than prominence the restraint gang.
• 15 of 17 trials that assessed chemotherapy toxicities, including diarrhea, weight loss, nerve damage and low garnet counts, down that the antioxidant club suffered resembling or lower rates of these side effects than the control clutch.
The authors noted that reducing side effects may hand patients avoid having to cut back on their chemotherapy dosing, interrupt next treatments, or forsake treatment utterly. This grease turn, is likely to favorably impact treatment outcomes. A recent study of a accumulation of colon cancer patients indicated that those who wrapped up their full prescribed schedules of chemotherapy had survival rates halfway twin those of patients who empty their chemotherapy treatment prematurely.
This brand-new study encourages further exploration of the dormant import of antioxidant supplements for a means of kind cancer survival.
