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Supplements during chemotherapy
Has anyone used berberine during Chemotherapy? It may lower blood sugar levels, thin blood, kill some gut bacteria (some good and some bad bacteria are affected). Berberine exhibits multiple anticancer mechanisms, including reducing cancer cell growth, preventing metastasis, and inducing apoptosis. It may also enhance the effects of other cancer treatments, by sensitizing cells to chemotherapeutic drugs via interactions with DNA repair proteins.
It can strengthen contractions in people with congestive heart failure, increase bilirubin levels causing yellowing of the skin, and lower blood pressure.
The cancer killing aspects sound great, some of the side effects, not so much.
I am interested in any other supplements that might be of benefit during chemotherapy. My oncologist has only cautioned me not to take curcumin.
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Prior to introducing any new supplements to my diet, I check each one with my cancer pharmacist to see whether they are approved or not.
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2 ReactionsI’m very interested in this question about supplements. When I was receiving chemo I was concerned that adding supplements would put more burden on the liver, which was already working hard metabolize the cancer drugs…but that was just a gut instinct and not per advice of any doctor. Curious what others know about this.
I'm on Gemcitabine + Abraxane + Cisplatin. I just found the email I received from my onco-pharmacist 2 years ago:
For interactions between the extensive supplement list and your chemotherapy, B vitamin components (includes pyroxidine (B6), thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), folate (B9), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5)and biotin (B7) are OK. In general, any vitamins or minerals listed a 100% or less of daily recommended requirements are OK.
Avoid any component listed as an antioxidant - this has the potential of reducing the efficacy of cisplatin. These include high levels of Vitamin E, Vitamin C, coenzyme Q, tumeric, and many others. In addition many of these components can add to any bleeding risk, and should be held if your platelets are low (good possibility for any one on gemcitabine, cisplatin and Abraxane).
An additional concern is interaction with enzymes that break down chemotherapy. This does not apply to cisplatin or gemcitabine, but does affect Abraxane. Abraxane is broken down and eliminated from the body with the activity of enzymes 2C8 and 3A4. Quercitin for example inhibits the activity of both these enzymes and could lead to a buildup of the drug (and higher side effects) in your body.
I would recommend holding supplement containing any of these components at levels greater than 100% while receiving gemcitabine, cisplatin, Abraxane.
Thanks for sharing, that is great information. I have a multivitamin which requires two tablets for the full dose and only take one. I will have to check it as I think even at 1/2 dose some of the multi-vitamin components will be over 100%.