What supplements can I take during chemotherapy?

Selenium, folic acid and probiotics have been found to be safe for use during chemotherapy treatment.

Can you take supplements while on chemotherapy?

The use of dietary supplements is common including after a cancer diagnosis. However, taking dietary supplements before and during chemotherapy may reduce the ability of chemotherapy to kill cancer cells.

What supplements to avoid while on chemotherapy?

Echinacea, curcumin, St. John's wort, valerian root, and allium (an extract of garlic) — all are examples of herbal supplements that can disrupt the toxicity-efficacy balance of chemotherapy.

What is the best supplement for cancer patients?

Can I take vitamin D during chemo?

As many cancer patients will confirm, the chemotherapy prescribed to kill the disease is often more debilitating than the cancer itself, with a range of horrendous side effects.

Taking vitamins during cancer treatment could be harmful, research suggests

How can I boost my immune system during chemo?

Can I take magnesium while on chemo?

Several studies have demonstrated that magnesium administered during chemotherapy treatment has a protective effect against nephrotoxicity.

Can I take vitamin C while on chemotherapy?

Avoid vitamin C if you're on radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Vitamin C can interfere with these treatments and decrease their effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you're taking acetaminophen (paracetamol®). Vitamin C can increase the side effects of this medication.

What are the best vitamins to take after chemotherapy?

Some vitamins or minerals could interfere with how well cancer drugs work. Antioxidant supplements such as co enzyme Q10, selenium and the vitamins A, C and E can help to prevent cell damage.

How can I get energy during chemo?

Drinking lots of fluids and eating well can help keep your energy reserves up. If nausea and vomiting make it hard to eat, talk to your doctor about these side effects. Get moving. Moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, riding a bike and swimming, throughout the week may help you preserve your energy level.

Can you take turmeric with chemotherapy?

Nutritional supplements and cancer treatment often don't mix

Turmeric is likely safe for most people, but it should be avoided during chemotherapy, radiation or blood-thinning therapies.

Can I take zinc during chemo?

Taken together, research suggests that optimal zinc intake plays a role in achieving protective effects. Zinc may help manage some symptoms associated with cancer treatments, but evidence is mixed. Small studies suggest it may help reduce infection or fatigue in some patients undergoing chemotherapy ^{(69) (73)}.

Does vitamin B12 interfere with chemotherapy?

Use of dietary supplements that boost levels of antioxidants, iron, vitamin B12 and omega-3 fatty acids appeared to lower the effectiveness of chemotherapy, researchers report in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Can I take probiotics while on chemo?

Despite limited data, it seems that probiotic bacteria as live microorganisms could be safely administered even in the setting of neutropenia. Conclusions: Current evidence supporting probiotic use as adjunctive therapy to anticancer treatment is limited, especially in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy.

How can I protect my liver from chemo?

How can I protect my kidneys during chemo?

During treatment

Certain medicines, such as amifostine (Ethyol), may be given to protect the kidneys from damage when nephrotoxic chemotherapy is given. The dose of the drug may be lowered or the drug may be stopped completely if there is kidney damage.

Should you take a multivitamin during chemo?

Many practitioners recommend stopping any high dose supplements during the time you are receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Take supplements with food unless specifically instructed otherwise. Doing so assists with absorption, since multivitamins, as a rule, work better when taken with food.

What should you not do after chemo?

Can you take iron supplements during chemo?

Patients who took Iron supplements both before and during chemotherapy were also more likely to have their cancer return or to die of any cause. However, the same was also true for people who only took Iron supplements during their chemotherapy.

How can I increase my red blood cells during chemo?

If chemotherapy causes anemia, your doctor may prescribe medications called erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). ESAs are forms of erythropoietin made in the laboratory. They work by telling your bone marrow to make more red blood cells.

Does CoQ10 interfere with chemotherapy?

CoQ10 may interfere with the actions of warfarin ^{(11) (12)}. Because of its antioxidant properties, it may also reduce effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation therapy ⁽¹³⁾.

Does folic acid interfere with chemotherapy?

Folic acid can interfere with certain chemotherapy drugs.

Can you drink coffee on chemo?

Avoid caffeine as it acts as a diuretic and draws water out of your cells, causing you to urinate more fluid than you are consuming. Stay away from strong smelling foods to avoid aggravating any disorders of taste. Avoid fatty fried, spicy and overly sweet foods, as they may induce nausea.

How much magnesium should I take during chemo?

Conclusions: It is recommended that magnesium levels should be measured routinely in all patients receiving cisplatin and that all cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimens should be supplemented routinely with sufficient doses of magnesium (40-80 mmol magnesium per cycle depending on the regimen).

Is low magnesium a side effect of chemo?

Traditional chemotherapeutic agents cause hypomagnesemia that can persist for months to years after cessation of cancer therapy (5).