A recent study reported an association between the use of anti-oxidants and what outcomes in individuals receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer?
As part of a larger study, patients randomly assigned to one of several treatment schedules of doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide and paclitaxel were queried on their use of supplements at entry to the study and followed over time. Patients using single ingredient anti-oxidant supplements; vitamin C, vitamin A, carotenoids, vitamin E or CoQ10 all had an increased risk of cancer recurrence or death compared to patients who did not use single ingredient supplements. Of the non-anti-oxidant supplements, vitamin B12 and iron also showed an increased risk of these adverse outcomes. Interestingly, use of a multivitamin was not associated with an either an increased risk of recurrence or death. The authors speculate that this may be related to dose.
Ambrosone CB, Zirpoli GR, Hutson AD, McCann WE, McCann SE, Barlow WE, Kelly KM, Cannioto R, Sucheston-Campbell LE, Hershman DL, Unger JM, Moore HCF, Stewart JA, Isaacs C, Hobday TJ, Salim M, Hortobagyi GN, Gralow JR, Budd GT, Albain KS. Dietary Supplement Use During Chemotherapy and Survival Outcomes of Patients With Breast Cancer Enrolled in a Cooperative Group Clinical Trial (SWOG S0221). J Clin Oncol. 2020 Mar 10;38(8):804-814. doi: 10.1200/JCO.19.01203. Epub 2019 Dec 19. PMID: 31855498; PMCID: PMC7062457.
Submitted by: Michael Hodgman, MD on behalf of the Herbal and Dietary Supplement Section