Can vitamins help cancer patients?

Feb 28 2010 by Mieka Smiles, Sunday Sun

NEW research has revealed that terminal cancer patients who take a daily cocktail of vitamins could extend their lives by two years or even longer. MIEKA SMILES takes a look at the so-called "wonder supplement" at the heart of the study and talks to one woman who says it’s helped to turn her life around.

A NORTHUMBERLAND company is in the spotlight after a pilot study into the effects of treating terminal cancer with a range of its vitamin products showed 76% of patients lived longer.

The findings, published in The Journal of International Medical Research, came after a long-term observational study following 41 patients with end-stage cancer.

During a nine-year period, the patients were treated with Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and other antioxidants including vitamin C, selenium, folic acid and b-carotene, all supplied by Pharma Nord UK, of Morpeth, Northumberland.

At the time of treatment, the patients, all suffering from breast, lung, brain, colon and other forms of cancer, were predicted to live for an average of 12 months, but 76% of them lived an average of five months longer – a 40% increase.

One of the findings was that the survival time was longer in those patients who began antioxidant treatment within 1.5 months of being diagnosed than those who began at a later date.

After concluding their work, the researchers behind the pilot study said the results seemed to show the impressive effect of a combination of antioxidants, including CoQ10, on the course of advanced cancer and underscored the need for larger clinical trials.

Pharma Nord UK managing director Bent Henriksen OBE (Hon) said: "We were delighted to supply the Coenzyme Q10 and other antioxidants used in this important study.

"Our CoQ10 has been used in more than 70 scientific studies around the world."

However, Dr Joanna Owens, Cancer Research UK’s senior science information officer, argues it’s far too early to say if there is any merit in taking such supplements in order to extend life in those with terminal cancer.

She said: "This very small study tells us nothing new about supplements and cancer.

"All the patients in this study took the supplements so it is impossible to judge if they had any effect.

"It is no surprise that in a group of people with different types of cancer, some survived for longer than might have been expected, while others sadly did not.

"As yet, there is not enough evidence to know whether supplements are helpful or harmful during cancer treatment.

"We know that high doses of some supplements can increase the risk of cancer and it’s possible that high doses of antioxidants can make treatment less effective.

"Until we know for sure, our advice is to try and get the vitamins you need through a balanced and varied diet rather than through vitamin supplements."

Pharma Nord was the first company to introduce CoQ10 to the European market.