Dietary Antioxidants During Cancer Chemotherapy: Impact on Chemotherapeutic Effectiveness and Development of Side Effects by Kenneth A. Conklin Conclusions: Dietary supplementation with antioxidants may provide a safe and effective means of enhancing the response to cancer chemotherapy. Vitamin E may prove to be an important nutrient for enhancing antineoplastic activity because of its role in preventing lipid peroxidation, thus maintaining the rapid rate of proliferation of cancer cells. Other antioxidants may be important because of their antioxidant properties, as well as for activities such as inhibition of topoisomerase II and PTKs. Quality of life of patients after chemotherapy may be improved by dietary supplementation with antioxidants that reduce or prevent chemotherapy-induced side effects. Although approved cytoprotectants are available, including dexrazoxane for doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, amifostine for cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity, and mesna for ifosfamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis,[213] these agents are not without adverse effects. For example, dexrazoxane can reduce the antineoplastic activity of doxorubicin.[214] This most likely results from complex formation and inactivation of doxorubicin, which may also prevent doxorubicin from interfering with CoQ10 biosynthesis and function, thus explaining the cardioprotectant effect of dexrazoxane. Dexrazoxane is also myelosuppressive[214] and may increase the risk of developing secondary malignancies.[215] Amifostine can induce hypotension, hypocalcemia, and nausea, and administration of mesna is associated with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.[213] In contrast, certain dietary antioxidants, in doses that are without adverse effects, can ameliorate some side effects of cancer chemotherapy. In this regard, CoQ10 may prove to be an effective means of preventing cardiotoxicity without compromising antineoplastic activity when chemotherapy employs the versatile and highly effective doxorubicin. However, much more work is needed to establish a clear role for the use of dietary supplements as an adjunct to cancer chemotherapy. 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.