Antioxidants Do Not Compromise Radiation Treatment in Cancer Patients

Cancer patients who receive radiation treatment can fully benefit from effects of antioxidant chemicals in natural foods or supplements, according to the results of a study recently presented at the Society of Integrative Oncology's Third International Conference in Boston. The research carried out by a team of scientists at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America found that high intake of antioxidants such as green tea extract, melatonin, vitamin C and E etc. does not influence radiation treatment outcomes in individuals who receive the particular type of medical therapy.

Even if there have been previous medical concerns about the fact that antioxidant chemicals may interfere with chemotherapy or radiation therapy, more specifically by influencing oxidation levels in cancer cells, the new study put and end to the allegations and showed that cancer patients can consume as many rich-in-antioxidants foods as they want.

The study from the American Cancer Treatment Centers and entitled 'Effect of Concomitant Naturopathic Therapies on Clinical Tumor Response to External Beam Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer' was conducted on prostate cancer patients who received radiation therapy. In order to determine if antioxidants really interfere with cancer cells oxidation levels and, therefore, with the radiation treatment, researchers measured PSA levels of the cancer in subjects who had both a diet rich or poor in antioxidants.

Overall results of the trial showed that there was no significant difference in PSA levels in radiation treatment receivers who consumed aliments overloaded with antioxidants or who did not. Antioxidant chemicals prevent damaging effects of free radicals on human healthy cells and on an individual's general health status. Therefore, having a diet which comprises laden-with-antioxidants foods is very beneficial for an individual, whether he has no health disorders of suffers from certain conditions.

Lead author of the study Timothy Birdsall, ND, vice president of integrative medicine for Cancer Treatment Centers of America concluded: "This study provides evidence that antioxidants as a complementary therapy in cancer treatment do not interfere with external beam radiation therapy. Antioxidants are one of many complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies that are crucial in today's fight against cancer."