Many people believe that Vitamin E is beneficial, and therefore take Vitamin E supplements. Despite the absence of proven advantages, antioxidant vitamins are widely used for continued periods of time and at high doses by wholesome people, those at risk for cardiovascular disease and cancer, and by individuals with cancer.
Intuitively, one would think that Vitamin E protects the body from the toxic effects of radiation. Thus, many people take Vitamin E while radiation therapy, hoping it will sell out possible side effects, but do not record it to their physicians.
Vitamine
Study Design
To test either or not Vitamin E administration while radiation therapy could forestall second cancers from developing in the future, a clinical trial was conducted in Canada. Its results were published recently in The International Journal of Cancer. Five hundred forty patients with early stage cancer of the head and neck who were to endure radiation therapy were the subjects of the study.
Head and neck cancer originates in the area of the head and neck and includes malignant tumors of the mouth, throat, voice box, sinuses and lymph glands in the neck The most base type of head and neck cancer is squamous (pronounced Skway-miss) cell cancer, which describes the type of cell from which the cancer originated. The proper of care for squamous cell cancer of the head and neck often includes radiation therapy, as well as surgical operation and chemotherapy.
Nearly half of the patients received 400 Iu (International Units) of Vitamin E and the other half received placebo, an inactive substance. The people in the previous group continued to use Vitamin E for three years after radiation therapy. Patients were followed for a total of six and a half years.
Outcome
The results of the study were amazing and revealed not only that Vitamin E was not beneficial, but in fact, was connected with a nearly 40% growth in the risk of death when compared to those counterparts who received a placebo.
Conclusions
The researchers ended that is Vitamin E is not protective, and in fact, it might no ifs ands or buts be harmful to patients with head and neck cancer who are receiving radiation therapy.
Discussion
Vitamin E falls into the category of anti-oxidants. Theoretically, the adverse outcome can be attributed to Vitamin E having a paradoxical effect, that is, instead of serving as an anti-oxidant, Vitamin E might have promoted oxidation; by displacing other antioxidants within the cells of the body, these cells might have come to be more vulnerable to damage from oxidation.
Recommendations
People who are undergoing radiation therapy should familiarize their physicians of all non-prescription medications and supplements they are taking. The good news is that doctors can then counsel patients wisely as to which products may be used safely. For more data about radiation therapy, visit http://www.Astro.org, the legal website of the American society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น