When do you need to consider supplementation?

I tell most of my patients to supplement while they are on active therapies. One reason is because of the nutritional imbalances the therapies create. The other is because many people find digestive difficulties as a common side effect of their treatment.

Proteins:

• Supplement with quality source whey protein powder or MAPS/SONS protein capsules. While the powder is a protein supplement (addition to), MAPS/SONS is a protein alternative for people who have trouble getting in the minimal daily protein requirements from their food.

Multi-B vitamins:

• I do not recommend a multivitamin because there are a few vitamins that are contra-indicated in some therapies. However, most of the vitamin B’s are safe, and they are always low during therapies.

Aging population:

• As we age, our intestinal villi are less able to absorb as efficiently as before. It is just the natural way of things. When you add a chronic disease diagnosis with multiple treatments on top of that, it is important to get the nutrients in as much as possible. If we have to bypass the intestinal walls for nutrients to be absorbed, we will do it intravenously. It is important to prevent the elderly population from being cachexic – being cachexic will have worse outcomes and odds when it comes to cancer treatment.

After Antibiotic Use:

• Antibiotics kills most of the good bacteria in your gut too which may impede absorption of nutrients that are going through the intestine. Research has been extensive when it comes to probiotic use after antibiotic use to help with restoring intestinal and digestive function. Recently, the research has been focusing on prebiotic. Even though there are no robust trials that I have seen regarding prebiotic use, I believe it is beneficial addition to intestinal healing.

What is the ideal nutrition?

When you have cancer, you are given a lot of medications that are not just for chemotherapy. Some medications are to help you get through the side effects of cancer, and others are to help you treat the cancer. Cancer also deplete nutrients. It is a disease where the cells are put into hyperbolic state (running on high gear). Cancer cells also re-route nutrients that fed the cancer cells as a priority. Therefore it is very easy to become underweight throughout the process.

Correcting the depletion (naming a few):

1. Glutamine – Used most commonly by the cells of the digestive tract. Depleted during cancer progression.
2. Antioxidants – Chemotherapy deplete antioxidants like vitamin C, E, Selenium. Side effects of chemotherapy also often resembles vitamin B deficiency (neuropathy), and patients will also test positively deficient in trace minerals such as magnesium and zinc.
3. Vitamin D – Low levels of vitamin D have been associated with increased risk of recurrence of several cancers.
4. Melatonin – Melatonin is proven to be low in night – shift workers who are at higher risks for specific cancers such as breast cancer.
5. CoQ10 – doxorubicin (A chemotherapy drug) is known to deplete CoQ10 which is necessary for smooth muscle functioning.
6. Probiotics – Antibiotics does not differentiate. They wipe out our intestinal flora, both good and bad.

Rebuild muscle strength

• Good macronutrients are needed to build muscles – especially protein.

Correct existing problems such as anemia or neutropenia.

• Iron
• Vitamin B12
• Folate
• Mushrooms
• Mistletoe

How to supplement during treatment is like an art – There are many potential interactions and or disruptions with natural treatment. Just because it is natural, does not mean it is always safe (most cases, they are). It is recommended to go see a naturopathic doctor for consultation when you are considering supplementation during your cancer treatment.