Antioxidants could reduce chemo efficacy

A new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute has thrown into question the health benefits of taking antioxidants as an adjunct to chemotherapy. A team of US researchers reviewed findings from several trials and found that supplements such as beta carotene and vitamin E may actually reduce the effectiveness of cancer treatment.

According to the analysis, led by Brian Lawenda of the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, USA, the use of supplemental antioxidants during chemotherapy and radiation therapy should be discouraged because of the possibility of tumor protection and reduced survival. Some data indicate they may protect tumor cells as well as healthy cells from oxidative damage generated by treatments. However, other data suggest that antioxidants can protect normal tissues from chemotherapy- or radiation-induced damage without decreasing tumor control, he wrote.