Antioxidants heben not impair effects of chemotherapy, on the contrary: antioxidants improve the quality of life through reduced side effects and improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy significantly. Article updated April 4, 2011
May 3, 2007. Source: Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, SwedenA large Swedish meta-analysis of available randomized studies show that antioxidants have no negative impact when given alongside chemotherapy. To the contrary, reduced toxicity, the effectiveness of chemotherapy and improved life it was extended. Again this is evidence that nutrition and extra supplementation is indeed an improvement in regular cancer treatments like chemo in this case. The authors note however that too few species specific Phase III trials are larger and more detailed studies and advise on the effects of antioxidants. Perhaps the KWF a few million of their availability to make many millions of them? For OPS donors we have the full study report available. Here is the abstract.
1: Cancer Treat Rev. 2007 in March 1914;
Impact of antioxidant supplementation on chemotherapeutic therapeutic efficacy: A systematic review of the evidence from randomized controlled trials.
Block KI, Koch AC, Mead MN, Tothy PK, Newman RA, Gyllenhaal C.
Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and Education, 1800 Sherman Avenue, Suite 350, Evanston, IL 60201, United States, Program for Collaborative Research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 833 South Wood Street Room 539, Chicago, IL 60612, United States.
PURPOSE: Much debate about physicians HAS whethere antioxidant supplementation alters the efficacy of cancer chemotherapy. Some have argued That the antioxidant Scavenge reactive oxygen species integral to the activity of Certain chemotherapy drugs, thereby Diminishing treatment efficacy. Others suggest antioxidant May Galanthus mitigate toxicity and allow for uninterrupted treatment schedules and a Reduced need for lowering chemotherapy doses. The Objective of this study was to systematically review the literature in order to compile results from randomized trials That Evaluate Concurrent Use of antioxidants with chemotherapy.
DESIGN: MEDLINE, Cochrane, CINAHL, AMED, and EMBASE databases AltHealthWatch Were searched. Only randomized, controlled clinical trials That Reported Survival and / or tumor response Were included in the final tally. The literature searches Were Performed in duplicate following a standardized protocol. No meta-analysis was Performed due to heterogeneity of tumor types and treatment protocols That Used in trials with the inclusion criteria.
RESULTS: Of 845 articles Considered, 19 trials with the inclusion criteria. Antioxidants Evaluated were: glutathione (7), melatonin (4), vitamin A (2), an antioxidant mixture (2), vitamin C (1), N-acetylcysteine (1), vitamin E (1) and ellagic acid (1 ). Subjects of study must have advanced or relapsed disease.
CONCLUSION: None of the trials Reported evidence of significant decreases in efficacy from antioxidant supplementation consistently chemotherapy. Many of the studies Indicated That antioxidant supplementation resulted in Either Increased survival times, Increased tumor responses, or both, as well as toxicities Fewer Than controls, however, Lack of adequate statistical power was a consistent limitation. Large, well-designed studies of antioxidant supplementation competitor with chemotherapy are warranted.
PMID: 17367938 [PubMed - as supp song by publisher]
