April 19, 2024

Vitamin C Supplements Could Help Reduce Toxic Side Effects of Common Cancer Treatment

” Our results suggest vitamin C as a prospective adjunct therapy to help in the management of peripheral muscle disorders after treatment with doxorubicin, thus enhancing practical capacity and quality of life and minimizing mortality,” said Antonio Viana do Nascimento Filho, a masters trainee in medication at University Nove de Julho (UNINOVE) in Brazil, first author of the research study. Nascimento Filho will present the findings at the American Physiological Society yearly meeting during the Experimental Biology (EB) 2022 conference, held in Philadelphia April 2– 5.
Doxorubicin is an anthracycline chemotherapy drug that is often used along with other chemotherapies to deal with breast cancer, bladder cancer, lymphoma, leukemia and several other cancer types. While it is a potent anti-cancer drug, doxorubicin can cause severe heart problems and muscle atrophy, with lasting influence on survivors physical stamina and quality of life.
These adverse effects are believed to result from an excessive production of oxygen reactive types or “totally free radicals” in the body. Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant that can help to decrease oxidative tension, the type of damage caused by free radicals.
In a previous research study performed with the University of Manitoba in Canada, the research group found that vitamin C improved markers of heart health and survival in rats provided doxorubicin, mainly by reducing oxidative tension and swelling. In the brand-new research study, they examined whether vitamin C could likewise assist to avoid doxorubicins unfavorable effects on skeletal muscle.
The researchers compared skeletal muscle mass and markers of oxidative tension in 4 groups of rats with eight to 10 animals in each group. One group received both vitamin C and doxorubicin, a second group got just vitamin C, a third group received only doxorubicin and a fourth group received neither. The mice that got vitamin C in addition to doxorubicin revealed evidence of minimized oxidative stress and much better muscle mass compared to mice that were provided doxorubicin however no vitamin C.
” It is amazing that the vitamin C prophylactic and concurrent treatments given for just one week prior to and kept for another 2 weeks after making use of doxorubicin was adequate to attenuate the negative effects of this drug on skeletal muscle, adding to a hugely favorable influence on the health of the studied animals,” said Nascimento Filho. “Our work showed that vitamin C treatment can reduce the loss in muscle mass and improve many markers of totally free radicals imbalance in rats subjected to doxorubicin administration.”
The scientists noted that further research study, consisting of randomized medical trials, would be required to verify whether taking vitamin C during doxorubicin treatment would be practical for human patients, and to determine the appropriate dosage and timing. Previous studies have suggested vitamin C might hinder the results of chemotherapy drugs, so clients are not recommended to take vitamin C supplements throughout cancer treatments unless directed to do so by their medical professional.
Nascimento Filho will present this research study from 10:15 a.m.– 12:15 p.m., Monday, April 4, in Exhibit/Poster Hall A-B, Pennsylvania Convention Center (Poster Board Number E277) (abstract). Contact the media group to learn more or to get a totally free press pass to attend the meeting.
Meeting: Experimental Biology 2022

One group received both vitamin C and doxorubicin, a 2nd group received just vitamin C, a third group got just doxorubicin and a 4th group got neither. The mice that got vitamin C along with doxorubicin revealed proof of lowered oxidative tension and much better muscle mass compared with mice that were given doxorubicin however no vitamin C.
” It is exciting interesting the vitamin C prophylactic and concurrent treatments given provided just one week before prior to maintained preserved another two 2 after the use of doxorubicin was sufficient to attenuate the side effects of this drug on skeletal muscle, contributing to a hugely extremely impact effect the health of the studied animals,” said Nascimento Filho. “Our work showed that vitamin C treatment can mitigate the loss in muscle mass and enhance numerous markers of free radicals imbalance in rats subjected to doxorubicin administration.”

In rats, vitamin C supplementation helps protect skeletal muscle after doxorubicin treatment.
A research study carried out in rats suggests that taking vitamin C might help to combat the muscle atrophy that is a typical side result of the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin. Although scientific studies would be required to determine the safety and effectiveness of taking vitamin C throughout doxorubicin treatment, the findings suggest vitamin C may represent an appealing opportunity to minimize some of the drugs most debilitating side impacts.