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(Ivanhoe Newswire) Antioxidant supplements may do more harm than good to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation.
Radiation and many chemotherapy agents work to kill cells. Researchers say there is a possibility antioxidant supplements may interfere with that process.
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Despite some intriguing studies that have suggested the benefit of adjunctive antioxidant treatments in cancer patients, the totality of the available evidence is equivocal at best and leaves us with serious concerns about the potential for harm, write the authors, who were led by Brian D. Lawenda, M.D., from the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, CA.
The investigators looked at previous research on antioxidant supplements and cancer treatments. One radiation study suggests cancer patients taking the supplements had lower odds of survival. In the past, some doctors have speculated antioxidants might help preserve healthy tissue during treatment and reduce side effects.
Another study on a specific antioxidant, amifostine, suggested a beneficial effect. The current authors believe more research is needed to reach a definitive conclusion.
They say the studies were too small to detect differences between people who did and didnt receive antioxidants.
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SOURCE: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, published online May 27, 2008
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