Dietary supplements for prostate diseases should not be used by men who undergo radiation therapy for prostate cancer, warn US scientists in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics.
These preparations increase the sensitivity of healthy cells to radiation, which can lead to complications.
Many men with prostate cancer take dietary supplements to improve their sexual potency and relieve prostate ailments. Some studies show that up to half of this group of patients use herbal or dietary supplements, and most do not discuss this with their doctor first.
Previously, studies on the harmful effects of some supplements after a patient undergoing chemotherapy were published, but their impact on the results of radiotherapy was unknown.
Researchers at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, tested three popular dietary supplements used by men with prostate disease. The tests were performed on healthy prostate cells grown in the laboratory and prostate cancer cells – both dependent on androgens (i.e. stimulated to grow by these hormones) and independent ones.
It turned out that the supplements did not affect the growth of cancer cells and their sensitivity to radiotherapy. Two of them inhibited the growth of healthy prostate cells, and the third blocked the repair of their DNA, thereby increasing the sensitivity to radiation therapy.
Cancer patients turn to dietary supplements to aid their treatment for a variety of reasons, but this research proves that what patients believe is supposed to help may actually be harmful, comments one of the authors of the study, Dr. Brian Marples. As he points out, it is very important that all patients discuss each of the supplements they take with their doctor. This is especially important in the case of patients with prostate cancer undergoing radiotherapy, as it may adversely affect its effectiveness. (PAP)