Micronutrients and Cancer Therapy

• Published in: Nutrition reviews Vol. 62; no. 4; pp. 142 - 147
• Main Authors: Whiteside, Martin A., Heimburger, Douglas C., Johanning, Gary L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2004; International Life Sciences Institute; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Cancer; Carcinogenesis, carcinogens and anticarcinogens; Chemotherapy; cisplatin; Combined Modality Therapy; Drug resistance; Drug Synergism; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Folic Acid - therapeutic use; Foods and miscellaneous; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Medical sciences; micronutrients; Micronutrients - therapeutic use; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Treatment Outcome; Tumors; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Vitamin B; Human; Micronutrient; Therapy; Chemotherapy; Vitamin; Supplementation; Malignant tumor; Antioxidant; Inorganic element; Folic acid
• ISSN: 0029-6643; 1753-4887
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2004.tb00036.x

The effect of micronutrient supplementation on the effectiveness of cancer chemotherapeutic agents is reviewed, and the efficacy of antioxi‐dants, folic acid, and other vitamins and minerals is discussed. Although some micronutrients show promise in enhancing the cytotoxicity of anticancer agents in vitro, caution should be exercised in recommending micronutrient supplementation for cancer patients receiving chemotherapeutic drugs. To date, few well‐controlled clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of micronutrients in promoting the sensitivity of tumors to chemotherapeutic agents.