Still, some research shows that despite their benefits, antioxidants such as vitamin E, beta-carotene, and selenium can actually increase the risk of some cancers, cause some cancers to recur, and interfere with the cancer-killing effects of chemotherapy.
The use of dietary supplements is common including after a cancer diagnosis. However, taking dietary supplements before and during chemotherapy may reduce the ability of chemotherapy to kill cancer cells.
Your doctor may prescribe a supplement if you have or may develop a vitamin deficiency caused by treatment. For example, certain cancer therapies weaken bones and can contribute to the development of osteopenia or osteoporosis. In these cases, your doctor may prescribe calcium and vitamin D to support your bone health.
Selenium, folic acid and probiotics have been found to be safe for use during chemotherapy treatment.
Antioxidant supplements like vitamins A, C and E were associated with a higher rate of cancer recurrence. Other vitamins like B12 and iron were associated with a negative effect on survival rates after cancer treatment.
Several studies have demonstrated that magnesium administered during chemotherapy treatment has a protective effect against nephrotoxicity.
Side effects
Some vitamins or minerals could interfere with how well cancer drugs work. Antioxidant supplements such as co enzyme Q10, selenium and the vitamins A, C and E can help to prevent cell damage.
"Sleeping eight hours each night, exercising, watching your stress level, staying hydrated, and eating nutritious, well-balanced meals, all play a role in helping to support your immune system. It is also very important to wash your hands to avoid germs."
Chemotherapy drugs: Vitamin C may reduce the effectiveness of some antineoplastic agents including vincristine, doxorubicin, methotrexate, cisplatin, and imatinib (38).
The risk of side effects from zinc appears to be relatively small. Zinc could be useful in the prevention of oral toxicities during irradiation. It does not help in chemotherapy-induced side effects.
People receiving chemotherapy should refrain from taking fish oil supplements and discuss any supplement with their doctors, said Dr. Emile Voest, the study's lead author from the Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam. “I'm always discussing it with my patients,” he said.
It is therefore prudent and advisable to avoid the concomitant use of anti-cancer drugs and herbal products, especially echinacea, garlic, ginseng, grapefruit juice, milk thistle, and St John's wort.
Preliminary data suggest B12 supplementation may help reduce pain and improve quality of life in patients with aromatase inhibitor-associated musculoskeletal symptoms (62). However, individual B12 or iron supplement use during chemotherapy may be significantly associated with poorer outcomes (63).
Vitamin D is a steroid hormone important for regulating the immune system and has beneficial anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, correcting deficiencies might reduce inflammation related to increased fatigue.
Deficiencies of vitamins B1, B2, and K and of niacin, folic acid, and thymine also may result from chemotherapy. Nutritional deficiencies are chemically correctable; however, the tumor must be eradicated to relieve cachexia.
Antioxidants and other nutrients do not interfere with chemotherapy or radiation therapy and can increase kill and increase survival, part 1.
Folic acid plays a role in the growth and repair of cells. Some studies show that folic acid blocks cancer in its early stages. The evidence for prevention is strongest for colorectal cancer. But getting too much folic acid could have the opposite effect by causing cancer cells to grow more easily.
When undergoing chemotherapy, if you feel up to it, it is generally fine to visit public places. Just remember your immune system is weaker than usual and it may be harder for your body to fight off infections.
CSFs help your body make more white blood cells. This lowers your risk for febrile neutropenia. CSFs include Neupogen (filgrastim), Neulasta (pegfilgrastim), and Leukine and Prokine (sargramostim). They are usually given as shots 24 hours after a chemotherapy treatment.
Conclusion: Honey not only has been shown to have the capability for healing injured tissues but it is also a more economical treatment, and it has fewer side effects compared to synthetic drugs. Honey or honey products can prevent chemotherapy-induced OM (CIOM) and be the best treatment to grade I, II and III CIOM.
Researchers found in cells and in mice that a low-protein diet blocked the nutrient signaling pathway that fires up a master regulator of cancer growth.
These enzymes are reactivated at early stages of cancer cell death by vitamin C (acid DNase) and vitamin K(3) (alkaline DNase). Moreover, the coadministration of these vitamins (in a ratio of 100:1, for C and K(3), respectively) produced selective cancer cell death.