Vitality Unleashed: The Functional Medicine Podcast

Fighting Cancer? Your Antioxidant Supplements May Be Hurting You

• Dr. Kumar from LifeWellMD.com • Season 1 • Episode 86

Share episode

Send us a text

The shocking truth about antioxidants and cancer treatment emerges in this eye-opening deep dive. We uncover the growing body of evidence suggesting that antioxidant supplements—long celebrated as health-boosting essentials—may actually undermine cancer treatments and potentially accelerate tumor growth.

Cancer therapies like chemotherapy and radiation fundamentally work by generating oxidative stress to kill cancer cells. When patients take high-dose antioxidant supplements during treatment, they may inadvertently neutralize this therapeutic effect. Multiple studies, including research from the National Cancer Institute, reveal alarming findings: mice receiving antioxidants like N-acetylcysteine and vitamin E experienced faster tumor growth, larger tumors, and increased metastasis. Human clinical trials show similarly troubling results, with beta-carotene supplementation linked to higher cancer rates in high-risk populations.

We break down the biological mechanisms behind this paradox, examining how antioxidants can suppress crucial tumor-fighting genes like p53, inhibit programmed cell death, and even enhance cancer's ability to spread throughout the body. The evidence points to specific supplements of concern—vitamin E, beta-carotene, N-acetylcysteine, and selenium—that cancer patients should approach with extreme caution during active treatment.

This information challenges conventional wisdom about antioxidant benefits and highlights the critical importance of informed supplement decisions during cancer care. Rather than self-prescribing high-dose supplements, patients should obtain antioxidants through balanced diets and always consult with their oncology team before taking any supplements. Your cancer treatment's effectiveness could depend on it. Have questions about your specific situation? Connect with our team at LifeWellMD.com for evidence-based guidance on navigating your cancer journey.

Disclaimer:
The information provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your supplement regimen or health routine. Individual needs and reactions vary, so it’s important to make informed decisions with the guidance of your physician.

Connect with Us:
If you enjoyed today’s episode, be sure to subscribe, leave us a review, and share it with someone who might benefit. For more insights and updates, visit our website at Lifewellmd.com.

Stay Informed, Stay Healthy:
Remember, informed choices lead to better health. Until next time, be well and take care of yourself.

Speaker 1:

You're probably listening to the deep dive because, well, you're like us, right? You want to take control of your health. You're searching for every advantage, especially if you're dealing with something as complex as cancer treatment.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely. It makes perfect sense that when you're going through cancer therapy, you'd want to do everything you can to feel better and maybe find ways to lessen those tough side effects. You know supplements, especially ones with a reputation for being healthy Well, they seem like a natural choice.

Speaker 1:

And that's exactly what makes this topic so important and, honestly, kind of surprising. We're diving into the possible downsides, actually the real dangers, of taking antioxidant supplements while you're undergoing cancer treatment.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

I mean, when we hear antioxidant, it's usually all positive right, fighting off damage, preventing disease, all positive right, fighting off damage, preventing disease. So the idea that they could actually be harmful during cancer treatment, well, that's something we really need to break down.

Speaker 2:

Totally. We often talk about antioxidants and their power to neutralize those reactive oxygen species, those ROS. Basically, they're unstable molecules that can damage cells over time. It seems obvious, then ROS are bad antioxidants. Fight them. So more antioxidants must be better, even when you're fighting cancer.

Speaker 1:

All right. So let's unpack this, because today we're diving deep into the latest research and what it's showing is that antioxidant supplements might actually make those crucial treatments like chemo and radiation less effective, and this is serious stuff. It could have a real impact on your treatment.

Speaker 2:

Exactly. We're going to be looking at some really crucial findings from the National Cancer Institute, the NCI, and there's this comprehensive review that brings together all the top research on this topic, and we want to be upfront. This info this might be unexpected. It might even contradict advice you've gotten before. That's why understanding the latest evidence is so important.

Speaker 1:

Here's where things get really interesting and, to be honest, kind of concerning. We're going to look at how those conventional cancer treatments actually work, the weird effects, the paradoxical effects antioxidants can have in that situation. We'll see what big clinical studies have found and some of this is really eye opening. Then we'll get into the biology, the mechanisms behind this interference. We'll talk about which specific antioxidants are raising the biggest red flags and ultimately what the current recommendations are based on the evidence.

Speaker 2:

And as part of Dr Kumar's team at LifeWellMDcom, a center dedicated to health, wellness and longevity right here in Florida, we really believe in giving you the most current, the most scientifically sound information to help you on your health journey. We see how proactive patients like you are, and it's just crucial that you have the right info to make smart choices, you know. So come check out our website, lifewellmdcom, for tons of resources on this and other vital health topics. You can also reach us directly at 561-210-999 to talk about your own specific situation.

Speaker 1:

All right. So we've got this conflict. What we've always thought about antioxidants, how good they are, and then this new science suggesting there might be a downside, a dark side, when it comes to cancer treatment. For years we've been told antioxidants neutralize those harmful reactive oxygen species, the ROS, and they're crucial for stopping cell damage. That's a pretty deep-rooted idea.

Speaker 2:

Oh, yeah, for sure, this idea that antioxidants can protect us from the damage caused by ROS. It's been central to how we think about nutrition for a long time. They're seen as these protectors against everyday wear and tear on our cells, maybe even helping prevent chronic diseases down the line.

Speaker 1:

But here's the thing, and this is important A lot of cancer treatments like chemo and radiation, they actually create ROS on purpose. That's how they attack and kill cancer cells by causing damage at the cellular level. It's completely intentional.

Speaker 2:

You got it, these therapies. They're designed to boost oxidative stress in cancer cells, messing up their DNA and other vital parts. The goal cell death. This ability to trigger oxidative damage is a fundamental part of how many of our most effective cancer treatments work.

Speaker 1:

So this brings us to the central and kind of scary question that everyone needs to think about Could taking antioxidant supplements while you're getting cancer treatment actually work against the very treatments that are trying to get rid of the cancer? It's a big deal and a lot of patients they just don't know about this and, sadly, some doctors might not even be talking about it.

Speaker 2:

It's definitely a major concern and unfortunately, the research is showing more and more that this is a real possibility. We're seeing some pretty unsettling findings that challenge this whole idea that more antioxidants always means better health, especially when you're actively getting cancer treatment.

Speaker 1:

Okay, let's dig into some of these kind of scary findings. The NCI, the National Cancer Institute. They highlighted a report back in 2015. It looked at a couple of really interesting studies, but in mice, Can you walk us through what they found and what it means for someone who's dealing with cancer right now?

Speaker 2:

Absolutely One study from 2014,. It looked at lung cancer in mice and they found that when they gave these mice antioxidants like N-acetylcysteine that's N-A-C and vitamin E it actually made things worse More tumors, bigger tumors and the cancer even progressed to more advanced stages faster.

Speaker 1:

Wow, that's I mean, that's the complete opposite of what you'd expect, right? You're taking something you think is healthy and it makes the cancer worse. What did they figure out was happening in the cells to cause this, this unexpected growth?

Speaker 2:

They found that the NAC and vitamin E they were lowering the levels of those reactive oxygen species in the cancer cells. That's what they're supposed to do, right, but here's the catch they also saw this like almost total shutdown of the P53 gene. Now, p53 is like the cell security system. When DNA gets damaged and that's what chemo and radiation are trying to do P53 is supposed to step in and try to fix it, or, if the damage is too bad, it tells the cell to self-destruct. So by reducing ROS and basically silencing P53, the antioxidants seem to be like disabling this natural defense against the cancer. The takeaway and it's a big one is that in this case, more antioxidants didn't mean better health. It actually meant more cancer growth.

Speaker 1:

That's a powerful finding and kind of scary. And you mentioned there might be a connection to a human study too.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, dr Berger, the lead researcher. He pointed out that these findings in mice might explain a weird result from a study in Finland, the alpha-tocopherol beta-carotene cancer prevention study, or ADBC. They found that male smokers who were taking beta-carotene supplements actually had a higher chance of getting lung cancer compared to those who got a placebo. The idea and mouse research backs it up is that a lot of these smokers might have already had tiny undetected lung tumors and the antioxidants actually helped them grow.

Speaker 1:

That's a sobering thought for anyone thinking about these supplements, especially if they're already at risk for cancer. And there was another mouse study. The NCI report talked about one that looked at melanoma, right Skin cancer.

Speaker 2:

Right. This one was more recent. They looked at the effects of NAC supplements on melanoma in mice. The NAC. It didn't seem to affect the growth of the main tumor itself. But get this it doubled the number of metastases to the lymph nodes, meaning the cancer spread more.

Speaker 1:

Doubled, that's. I mean that's huge and potentially really dangerous. What did they find out about why that happened? How was the cancer able to spread more easily?

Speaker 2:

They measured the levels of glutathione it's a key antioxidant our bodies make naturally in both the main tumor and in the places where it had spread, and they saw that the ratio of reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione that tells you how much oxidative stress there is. It went up a lot in the metastases in the mice that got NAC. So it seems like the antioxidant was specifically lowering oxidative stress in those spreading cancer cells. The antioxidant was specifically lowering oxidative stress in those spreading cancer cells and then when they looked at human melanoma cells in the lab.

Speaker 2:

Both NAC and a lab-made version of vitamin E actually made the cells better at invading and moving around, which is how cancer spreads. The point here is the antioxidants weren't stopping the original tumor necessarily, but they were making it easier for the cancer to spread to other parts of the body.

Speaker 1:

So it's almost like the initial stress in the cells it was actually keeping the cancer contained, and then the antioxidants, they took away that natural barrier and let it loose.

Speaker 2:

That's a great way to think about it. And there's more Dr Sean Morrison's team at UT Southwestern. They did some really important work too, also with mice and melanoma. They found that those cancer cells that travel in the blood the ones that can start new tumors they actually had more oxidative stress compared to the cells in the original tumor, and this is key. That higher stress seemed to make it harder for them to set up shop in new places. But when they gave those mice antioxidants it lowered the oxidative stress in those traveling cancer cells and, tragically, that led to more metastases. Dr Morrison even suggested that by reducing this stress, antioxidants might actually be helping the tumor cells more than the healthy cells. Their findings even suggest that maybe treatments that increase oxidative stress in those traveling cancer cells might be a way to stop the cancer from spreading.

Speaker 1:

This is really turning everything we thought we knew about antioxidants upside down, especially when we're talking about cancer. That's already there, that's active. It challenges this idea that antioxidants are always good. Now you mentioned a big review, one that looked at a lot of research, including studies with actual people. What were some of the key takeaways from that review stuff our listeners should really know.

Speaker 2:

This review and they titled it the Dangers of Antioxidant Supplementation During Cancer Treatment, which is pretty direct. It really highlighted this paradox. The whole point of taking antioxidants might be to protect healthy cells from the side effects of treatment right, but those same supplements might also be protecting the cancer cells that the treatment is trying to kill. They looked closely at several major clinical trials with people and some of the results are well, they're, pretty worrying.

Speaker 1:

Like that ATBC study with the smokers we talked about earlier.

Speaker 2:

That's one of them. They pointed out again how male smokers taking beta-carotene supplements were more likely to develop lung cancer. They also looked at a carotene and retinol efficacy trial, carat, here in the US. This one involved people who were at high risk for lung cancer smokers and asbestos workers and they had to stop the trial early because those who were taking beta-carotene and retinol and other antioxidant they were not only developing lung cancer at a higher rate, but they were also dying more often overall. That's a serious outcome. It should make anyone thinking about these supplements really think twice.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that's a big red flag. It shows there's real potential for harm. Were there other trials, ones with people that found similar problems with antioxidants and cancer?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, the selenium and vitamin E cancer prevention trial. Antioxidants in cancer yeah, the selenium and vitamin E cancer prevention trial, selecas. This was a huge trial. They wanted to see if selenium and vitamin E could lower the risk of prostate cancer in men, but it didn't work. In fact and this is important they found a significant increase in prostate cancer cases among the men who were only taking vitamin E. So not only did it not help, but it actually seemed to be linked to a higher risk of the very cancer it was supposed to prevent.

Speaker 1:

So these studies with people? They're basically confirming what we saw in the mouse studies. It's not just a theory, we're seeing it happen in real life. Now let's try to understand how this works. How are these antioxidants messing with cancer treatment? What's actually happening in the body?

Speaker 2:

There are a few main ways this might be happening. What's actually happening in the body? There are a few main ways this might be happening. First, like we've been talking about a lot of keto drugs like anthracyclines and platinum-based agents and radiation, they all work by creating those reactive oxygen species, those ROS, in cancer cells, leading to cell death. But when you add in high doses of antioxidants they can directly neutralize those ROS, basically weakening the treatment's ability to kill the cancer cells. It's like trying to mop up a poison before it can work.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that makes sense.

Speaker 2:

Second, oxidative stress, that increase in ROS. It often triggers something called apoptosis. It's like programmed cell death, a way for cells to self-destruct, especially damaged cancer cells self-destruct especially damaged cancer cells by lowering ROS levels. Antioxidants might be stopping this important mechanism, allowing cancer cells that should be dying to stay alive. So basically, the cancer cells might be resisting treatment better.

Speaker 1:

So not only are they withstanding the initial attack, but they're also evading the natural cleanup process. That's a double whammy.

Speaker 2:

You got it. Third, like we saw in those melanoma studies some antioxidants, nac and vitamin E they seem to help cancer spread the metastasis. Researchers think this might be because they lower oxidative stress in those cancer cells that are moving through the blood, making it easier for them to survive and start new tumors somewhere else. This is a really worrying finding, obviously.

Speaker 1:

And lastly, we talked about that lung cancer study. What did that show about how antioxidants might be a problem?

Speaker 2:

That study pointed to the suppression of tumor suppressor genes, specifically p53. Like we said before, p53 is crucial for repairing damaged DNA and triggering cell death when the damage is too much. So, by lowering p53 activity, antioxidants might be stopping the body from controlling and getting rid of those damaged cancer cells that the treatment is targeting.

Speaker 1:

It sounds like there are like multiple ways all connected that taking antioxidant supplements could make cancer treatment less effective. So, with all these concerns, are there any specific antioxidant supplements that people should be extra careful with or even avoid altogether during cancer treatment?

Speaker 2:

The research definitely points to a few specific antioxidants that need extra caution. Vitamin E, for example. It was linked to a higher risk of prostate cancer in that select trial and, like we talked about, it's also been shown to speed up tumor growth and help melanoma spread in lab studies.

Speaker 1:

So be very, very careful with that one and beta carotene keeps coming up, especially with lung cancer.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, multiple studies have consistently found a higher risk of lung cancer in smokers and people exposed to asbestos who are taking beta carotene. That's a really consistent finding, so it's a big concern.

Speaker 1:

And what about NSEC and acetylcysteine? It's often promoted as a good antioxidant.

Speaker 2:

NSEC has been shown to help tumors grow and spread in both lung cancer and melanoma, at least in lab studies. It seems like its ability to reduce oxidative stress in cancer cells is a key part of why it's a problem. So, based on what we know now, be very cautious with NSC during cancer treatment.

Speaker 1:

Insulinium. People used to think it might protect against cancer.

Speaker 2:

The early excitement about selenium has kind of faded Bigger. Better studies haven't really shown a clear benefit for preventing cancer, and in some cases it might even be harmful. So there's no strong reason to use it during cancer treatment, and some data suggests it might not help at all.

Speaker 1:

This is crucial information and unfortunately, it's not always something patients are told. So, based on all this evidence, what advice can we give someone who's in the middle of cancer treatment and maybe thinking about taking antioxidants? What should they do?

Speaker 2:

The main recommendation and this is based on the science is don't take high-dose antioxidant supplements during chemo or radiation unless your oncologist specifically tells you to. And even then it should be for a very specific reason, like managing a particular side effect, and that decision should be made very carefully, weighing the benefits and risks, and always in close consultation with your cancer care team.

Speaker 1:

So it's not a never ever take them situation, but it should be a very cautious decision and one that's guided by your doctor. Patients should absolutely not be making these decisions on their own, Exactly.

Speaker 2:

Patients should absolutely not be making these decisions on their own. Exactly, in most cases, getting antioxidants from a balanced diet lots of fruits, veggies, whole grains that's considered much safer and more beneficial during cancer treatment. Those whole foods have a mix of different compounds and lower doses, and they probably work differently in the body than a high-dose supplement with just one isolated antioxidant.

Speaker 1:

And you can't overstate the importance of talking to your cancer care team.

Speaker 2:

Oh, it's crucial. Patients need to be upfront with their oncologists and their whole care team about any supplements, vitamins, herbal remedies anything they're taking or thinking about taking. There could be some serious interactions with certain cancer treatments. It could make the treatment less effective or even make side effects worse. What might seem like a natural, harmless way to support your health could actually have unintended consequences negative consequences on your cancer treatment. It's so important to talk to your doctors about this stuff.

Speaker 1:

So the focus during treatment it should really be on staying strong and healthy with a good, balanced diet and working closely with your health care team, not relying on isolated antioxidant supplements which, like we've heard, could actually do more harm than good.

Speaker 2:

That's it. A good diet gives your body what it needs during treatment, without the risk of those high-dose antioxidants messing with the cancer-fighting therapies.

Speaker 1:

This has been well, a really eye-opening conversation and, to be honest, a little bit concerning let's recap the most important takeaway for our listeners those who are going through cancer treatment or might be facing it soon.

Speaker 2:

More and more research is showing that antioxidant supplements can interfere with how well those crucial cancer treatments work chemo and radiation. And what's really scary, in some cases they might even help the cancer grow and spread. That's a huge concern for anyone dealing with cancer. And what's really scary, in some cases they might even help the cancer grow and spread. That's a huge concern for anyone dealing with cancer.

Speaker 1:

So if you're getting treatment right now or if you're about to start, you need to know about this. Talk to your oncologist, Talk to your whole cancer care team about any supplements you're taking or thinking about taking. Don't be shy about asking questions, specifically about antioxidants.

Speaker 2:

Tell them about any information you've heard or read. Thank you have unexpected negative effects on your treatment. Please talk to your doctors. That's the most important thing.

Speaker 1:

And that's exactly where resources like our team at LifeWellMDcom come in. We're dedicated to providing you with the best, the most cutting edge and, most importantly, evidence-based information to support your health and help you live a longer, healthier life. If you're dealing with cancer and you have questions, concerns about your treatment, about supplements, anything please reach out to the experts at lifewellmdcom. We're here to help you figure out a plan that's right for you.

Speaker 2:

You can also call us directly at 5-6-1-2-1-0-9-9-9-9. We're happy to talk to you about your health journey. We're a team that puts your safety and the effectiveness of your treatment first. We want to help you make the best choices based on the evidence about your health during this really important time. Don't hesitate to reach out.

Speaker 1:

We're here for you A lot of effective cancer treatments. They work by using cellular stress to fight the disease. So when we try to reduce all kinds of stress in our bodies with supplements, are we actually getting in the way of the healing process those treatments are trying to start. It's definitely something to think about and to talk to your medical team about. Thanks for joining us for this deep dive.