feature 2) Oral enzyme therapy – We un-derstand “we are what we eat” but we also are what we absorb. Ensuring proper absorption of nutrients is essen-tial for full health. It was shown that not only in impaired digestion, but also in the in the healthy gut, using diges-tive enzymes improves carbohydrate and protein bioavailability in the small intestine. After discussion on how im-portant our diet is to obtain key nutri-ents from our foods, it is best to ensure we are able to absorb those nutrients fully. Not only in the prevention of cancer, but also in the treatment of the cancer patients, enzyme therapy – spe-cifically the proteases such as papain, typsin and chymotrypsin – have been shown to exhibit anti-tumour and anti-metastatic effects. 5,6 ADDRESSING THE PATIENT WITH CANCER The safe and effective use of antioxidants Assisting the nutritional health of a patient with cancer is so important, considering that, often, in traditional oncology treatment, little attention is paid to lifestyle and diet. Many times the recommendations are in opposi-tion to the anti-cancer diet strategies – with recommendations of eating high-fat, high-caloric, refined foods – with an attitude of “it does not mat-ter what you eat, just eat to keep weight up.” This seems coun-terintuitive to what we know about the body, the immune system and the role nutrients play in health. There is also the fear that using supplementa -tion – specifi-cally antioxidants – during cancer treatment such as chemotherapy and radiation would blunt and interfere with the effec-tiveness of those therapies. Why this disconnect? This stemmed from the concept that these therapies work by 10 • CANADIAN CHIROPRACTOR | MAY 2012 generating free radicals to induce cel-lular death and that antioxidants would neutralize these free radicals. Simone II et al. ( Alternative Therapies 2007) re -viewed the evidence in over 50 human trials involving 8,521 patients using beta carotene, vitamins A, C, and E, selenium, cysteine, B vitamins, vitamin D3, vitamin K3 and glutathione. Use of these supplements in 5,081 people showed there was no interference in the traditional therapeutic modalities – in fact, the supplements enhanced the effects of these modalities, decreased their side-effects, protected normal tissue, and, in some, increased their survival. 7 There are possibly several mecha-nisms of action for this, but one is quite interesting. Due to membrane disruption, cancer cells accumulate antioxidants to a high level which can shut down the cells’ oxidative reactions needed for generating energy and sur-viving. Healthy cells do not have this membrane defect and do not excessive-ly accumulate antioxidants. A study in 2005 by Pathak looking at non small cell lung cancer showed that combi-nation therapy of chemotherapy and antioxidant therapy did not reduce the effectiveness of the traditional therapy. Even more interesting, the pretreat-ment with antioxidants vitamin C, A, E and beta carotene significantly en-hanced the growth inhibitory effects of cisplatin, and other chemotherapeutic agents. 8 Supporting the cancer patient with proper calories is important but en-suring the calories are from a healthy source, with the adjunct of supple-mentation, should be an integral part of their therapy. Working with integra-tive care providers that will evaluate the patient’s individual needs and risk factors is essential. Following the anti-cancer diet – along with an open dis-cussion with all health-care providers on what they may implement to assist with their treatment to ensure the best results possible – makes perfect sense for these patients. Note: for specific dosing and forms of antioxidants, patients should be encour-aged to work with health-care providers to adequately meet their individual needs and the needs of their particular form of cancer. REfERENCES 1. Simone II C, Simone N, Simone V, Simone C. Antioxidants and other nutrients do not interfere with che-motherapy or radiation therapy and can increase kill and increase sur-vival, Part I. Alternative Therapies 2007, 13:22-28 2. Donaldson M. Nutrition and cancer: A review of the evidence of an anti-cancer diet. Nutrition Journal 2004, 3:19 http://www.nutritionj.com/con-tent/3/1/19 3. Schachter M. Integrative Oncology for clinicians and Cancer Patients. ISOM 2010, 25(4):169-193 4. Block G, Patterson B, Subar A: Fruit, vegetables, and cancer prevention: a review of the epidomological evi-dence. Nutr Cancer 1992, 18:1-29 5. Wald M, Olejar T, Pouckova P, Za-dinova M: Proteinases reduce meta-static dissemination and increase survival time in C57B16 mice with Lewis lung carcinoma. Life Sci 1998, 63:L237-243 6. Wald M, Savadova E, Pouckova P, Za-dinova M, Boubelik M: Polyenzyme preparation Wobe-Mugos inhibits growth of solid tumors and develop-ment of experimental metastases in mice. Life Sci 1998, 62:l43-48 7. Simone II C, Simone N, Simone V, Simone C: Antioxidants and other nutrients do not interfere with che-motherapy or radiation therapy and can increase kill and increase th sur-nniversar 6 0 A vival, Part II. Alternative Therapies 2007, 13(2):40-47 8. Pathak AK, et al. Chemotherapy Alone vs. Chemotherapy plus high Dose Multiple Antioxidants in Pa-tients with Advanced Non Small Lung Cancer. Journal of the American Col-lege of Nutrition 2005 24 (1) 16-21 www.canadianchiropractor.ca
Chiropractic + Naturopathic Doctor May 2012: Page 10
