|
Side Effects > Radioprotective
Last Update: 11/29/2012
|
TOPICS
Introduction | Biologics | Radio-protective drugs | Radio-enhancing drugs | Antioxidants? | Fats & Fatty Acids? | Phytochemicals?
The abstracts within do not demonstrate proof of benefit or absence of risk.
See Evaluating Medical Claims & Data for details.
Radiotherapy and radio-imaging are commonly used to effectively treat and monitor patients with lymphomas and other cancers.
IMPORTANT: Discussion of the use of supplements with your physicians is particularly important when undergoing treatment, because such practices may reduce efficacy. Further, supplements are not standardized or regulated and may not contain what is on the label, and may contain also contaminants.
NPR Walt Bogdanich interview:
[Benefits and] Hidden Dangers Of Medical Radiation 
Includes many useful tips - questions to ask, who to ask, how to identify credentialed centers ....
Biologics:
Biologics, with trade names such as Neumega®, Neupogen®, and Procrit® can help to restore blood counts, and protect you from many side effects associated with radiotherapy. Importantly, these new therapies can help to keep you on treatment schedule, which could be important to how effective your treatment will be.
See Biologics for details.
Radioprotective drugs:
.gif) |
Mouth gel [tetracaine] curbs oral pain after radiotherapy for cancer - .nlm.nih.gov
"An oral gel containing the anesthetic tetracaine reduces mouth soreness caused by radiation treatment for cancer of the head and neck, according to results of a study. Mouth inflammation and sores, or mucositis, are a common and serious side effect of radiation therapy for head and neck cancer patients. Mucositis can lead to problems with drinking and eating, as well as infection."
|
|
Melatonin as a radioprotective agent: a review.
Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2004 Jul 1;59(3):639-53. PMID: 15183467
|
|
Amifostine: A Useful Radioprotectant? - Oncology Review | jo | Medscape
|
|
Phase III randomized trial of Calendula officinalis compared with trolamine for the prevention of acute dermatitis during irradiation for breast cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2004 Apr 15;22(8):1447-53. PMID: 15084618 | related abstracts (Could well apply to radiotherapy for any cancer.)
|
|
Chlorhexidine prophylaxis for chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced stomatitis: a randomized double-blind trial. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1990 Mar;69(3):331-8. PMID: 2179802 - PubMed
|
Radio-enhancing drugs?
|
Xcytrin - (motexafin gadolinium) (investigational)
|
|
Antioxidants?
Antioxidants use with radiotherapy is a controversial.
Please consult with your physician before self-administering antioxidants or any supplement, especially during treatment.
It appears that radical-scavenging properties of some natural compounds may explain the protective effects against radiation.
|
IMPORTANT: Discussion of the use of supplements with your physicians is particularly important when undergoing treatment, because such practices may reduce efficacy. Further, supplements are not standardized or regulated and may not contain what is on the label, and may contain also contaminants.
|
Melatonin
|
Radioprotective effect of melatonin assessed by measuring chromosomal damage in mitotic and meiotic cells. Mutat Res. 1999 Aug 18;444(2):367-72. abstract
|
|
|
Silymarin (Milk Thistle)
|
Radioprotective effect of silymarin against radiation induced hepatotoxicity. Pharmacol Res. 2002 Jun;45(6):447. PMID: 12162944 - PubMed
|
|
|
Vitamin C (also note important negative interactions with copper below)
|
Roles of vitamin C in radiation-induced DNA damage in presence and absence of copper. Chem Biol Interact. 2001 Jul 31;137(1):75-88. abstract
NOTE: This item points to the complexities of the interactions between vitamins, minerals, and therapeutics.
|
|
|
Vitamin E & selenium & other antioxidants- Food sources: nuts, wheat germ
|
Nutritional approaches to radioprotection: vitamin E. Mil Med. 2002 Feb;167(2 Suppl):57-9. abstract
|
|
Detailed Study of Anti-Oxidants - Lamson, MS, ND and Brignall, ND
|
|
|
The effect of selenium and/or vitamin E treatments on radiation-induced intestinal injury in rats. - Life Sci 2000 Apr 7;66
|
|
Fats & Fatty acids?
|
IMPORTANT: Discussion of the use of supplements with your physicians is particularly important when undergoing treatment, because such practices may reduce efficacy. Further, supplements are not standardized or regulated and may not contain what is on the label, and may contain also contaminants.
|
Fats and fatty acids. Also see Fats & Fish oil
|
Polyunsaturated fatty acids increase the sensitivity of 36B10 rat astrocytoma cells to radiation-induced cell kill. Lipids. 1997 Mar;32(3):283-92. abstract
|
|
Dietary eicosapentaenoic acid prevents systemic immunosuppression in mice induced by UVB radiation. Radiat Res. 2001 Jul;156(1):36-44. abstract
|
|
Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids: impact on cancer chemotherapy and radiation. Altern Med Rev. 2002 Feb;7(1):4-21. abstract
|
|
|
Phytochemicals?
Phytochemicals are elements and compounds from higher plants
It may be that plants have adapted (evolved to produce chemicals) to protect themselves from radiation received from constant exposure to the sun. We cannot assume however, that all plants listed here are safe and/or effective to use. Please consult with your physician.
Plants, although "natural" can have toxic side effects.
|
IMPORTANT: Discussion of the use of supplements with your physicians is particularly important when undergoing treatment, because such practices may reduce efficacy. Further, supplements are not standardized or regulated and may not contain what is on the label, and may contain also contaminants.
General:
|
Attenuation of radiation-induced genomic instability by free radical scavengers and cellular proliferation. Free Radic Biol Med. 2001 Jul 1;31(1):10-9. abstract
|
|
The herbal preparation abana protects against radiation-induced micronuclei in mouse bone marrow. Mutat Res. 1997 Sep 18;393(1-2):157-63. abstract | abana
|
|
A review of cancer chemopreventive agents. Curr Med Chem. 2001 Sep;8(11):1349-62. - Review
|
Basil (Ocium santum)
|
Protection against radiation-induced chromosome damage in mouse bone marrow by Ocimum sanctum. Mutat Res. 1997 Feb 3;373(2):271-6. abstract
|
|
Enhancement of bone marrow radioprotection and reduction of WR-2721 toxicity by Ocimum sanctum. Mutat Res. 1998 Feb 2;397(2):303-12. abstract
|
|
|
|
Luteonlin - Food sources: Rooibos tea,
|
Radioprotective effect of antioxidative flavonoids in gamma-ray irradiated mice - Carcinogenesis 1994 Nov;15 abstract
|
|
|
Himalayan Mayapple, or Indian mandrake (not readily available)
|
Protection of mouse jejunum against lethal irradiation by Podophyllum hexandrum. Phytomedicine. 2001 Nov;8(6):413-22. details
|
|
|
Mint (Mentha arvensis)
|
Influence of the leaf extract of Mentha arvensis Linn. (mint) on the survival of mice exposed to different doses of gamma radiation. Strahlenther Onkol. 2002 Feb;178(2):91-8. abstract
|
|
|
Orientin and vicenin - Food sources: Passion Flower, Basil
|
Radiation protection by the ocimum flavonoids orientin and vicenin: mechanisms of action - Radiat Res 2000 Oct abstract
|
|
|
Spirulina (algae) contains chlorophyll, vitamins B12 and B6, high carotenoid levels
|
The adaptive potentials of those who worked in the cleanup of the aftermath of the accident at the Chernobyl Atomic Electric Power Station under the influence of different treatment methods Lik Sprava. 2000 Apr-Jun;(3-4):18-21. abstract
|
|
The postradiation use of vitamin-containing complexes and a phycocyanin extract in a radiation lesion in rats Radiats Biol Radioecol. 2000 May-Jun;40(3):310-4. Russian. abstract
|
|
|
|
