Block KI et al. – The first systematic review of evidence supports a role for antioxidant supplementation during chemotherapy in reducing dose-limiting toxicities; well-designed studies of larger populations of pts given specific antioxidants defined by dose and schedule relative to chemotherapy are warranted Methods
Systematic review of randomized, controlled clinical trial evidence evaluating effects of concurrent use of antioxidants with chemotherapy on toxic side effects
Literature search from 1966-October 2007 using MEDLINE, Cochrane, CinAhl, AMED, AltHealthWatch and EMBASE databases
Inclusion of randomized, controlled clinical trials reporting antioxidant-based mitigation of chemotherapy toxicity
Of 965 articles, including 2,446 subjects, 33 met inclusion criteria
Results
Antioxidants evaluated: glutathione (11), melatonin (7), vitamin A (1), an antioxidant mixture (2), N-acetylcysteine (2), vitamin E (5), selenium (2), L-carnitine (1), Co-Q10 (1) and ellagic acid (1)
Most (24) of 33 studies reported evidence of decreased toxicities from concurrent use of antioxidants with chemotherapy
No difference in toxicities between the 2 groups noted in 9 studies
Only 1 study (vitamin A) noted a significant increase in toxicity in antioxidant grp
Antioxidant grp completed more full doses of chemotherapy or had less-dose reduction than controls noted in 5 studies
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