Antioxidants and other nutrients do not interfere with chemotherapy or radiation therapy and can increase kill and increase survival, part 1. Simone CB 2nd, Simone NL, Simone V, Simone CB. Simone Protective Cancer Institute in Lawrenceville, NJ, USA. PURPOSE: Some in the oncology community contend that patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy should not use food supplement antioxidants and other nutrients. Oncologists at an influential oncology institution contended that antioxidants interfere with radiation and some chemotherapies because those modalities kill by generating free radicals that are neutralized by antioxidants, and that folic acid interferes with methotrexate. This is despite the common use of amifostine and dexrazoxane, 2 prescription antioxidants, during chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. DESIGN: To assess all evidence concerning antioxidant and other nutrients used concomitantly with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, the MEDLINE and CANCERLIT databases were searched from 1965 to November 2003 using the words vitamins, antioxidants, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Bibliographies of articles were searched. All studies reporting concomitant nutrient use with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy (280 peer-reviewed articles including 62 in vitro and 218 in vivo) were indiscriminately included. RESULTS: Fifty human clinical randomized or observational trials have been conducted, involving 8,521 patients using beta-carotene; vitamins A, C, and E; selenium; cysteine; B vitamins; vitamin D3; vitamin K3; and glutathione as single agents or in combination. CONCLUSIONS: Since the 1970s, 280 peer-reviewed in vitro and in vivo studies, including 50 human studies involving 8,521 patients, 5,081 of whom were given nutrients, have consistently shown that non-prescription antioxidants and other nutrients do not interfere with therapeutic modalities for cancer. Furthermore, they enhance the killing of therapeutic modalities for cancer, decrease their side effects, and protect normal tissue. In 15 human studies, 3,738 patients who took non-prescription antioxidants and other nutrients actually had increased survival. PMID: 17283738 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Altern Ther Health Med. 2007 Jan-Feb;13(1):22-8 Ann's NOTE: I heard Dr. Charles Simone speak at the American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM) conference 2008. He presented data about the thousands of trial participants and was very persuasuive. There is NO evidence of harm, just speculation. But for whatever reasons, this speculative approach has dominated oncology. Were I to take chemotherapy or radiation therapy, I would definitely want to be taking supplements AND acupuncture throughout the treatment. There is real evidence of value, no evidence of harm. What more do oncologists or people with cancer need to know? Large scale randomized, multi-center clinical trials (so-called Gold Standard) should be started immediately so that this issue can be PROVEN once and for all. It is to the benefit of ALL people with cancer using conventional therapy. (October 2008) Antioxidants and Radiation Therapy (RTx) Integr Cancer Ther, September 2007 Ralph Moss on Chemo/RTx and Antioxidants Integr Cancer Ther, March 2006 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.