This natural formulation, optionally paired with a carbohydrate-limited diet, lessens the cytotoxic side effects of chemotherapy. Cancer management entails a combination of treatments, often employing surgery followed by chemotherapy, both targeted and non-targeted, with or without radiation. These procedures, particularly chemotherapy protocols, affect healthy cells as well as cancerous cells, resulting high toxicity leading to damage to critical organs, peripheral nerves, hematologic toxicity, fatigue, and anxiety or distress, among other negative effects. These negative side effects can become critical and result in the suspension of treatment, decreasing cancer treatment efficacy. Currently, few options are available to lessen the negative side effects of cancer treatments. Available therapies largely focus on treating specific problems associated with chemotherapy cytotoxicity rather than reducing the cytotoxic effect upon treatment.
Researchers at the University of Florida have designed a treatment strategy involving the oral consumption of four natural products, optionally paired with a carbohydrate-limited ketogenic or modified ketogenic diet, for safely attenuating the cytotoxic damage of chemotherapy cancer treatments. In pre-clinical model studies, the formulation of natural products protected normal cells, tissues, and organs from the undesirable side effects of cancer treatment such as anemia, peripheral neuropathy, neutropenia, and damage to essential organs, without affecting the efficacy of the chemotherapeutic agents.
Consumption of the four natural products comprising this technology, curcumin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), glucosinolates (and/or derivatives thereof), and medium chain triglycerides (MCT), in formulated compositions, optionally with simultaneous with a reduction of carbohydrate intake, may safely reduce cytotoxic side effects associated with cancer treatments in patients
This technology, consisting of an oral formulation of four natural products, medium chain triglycerides (MCT), curcumin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), and glucosinolates, along with an optional low carbohydrate ketogenic or modified ketogenic diet, may mitigate the cytotoxic side effects associated with cancer treatments. Reduced carbohydrate intake reduces glucose levels, and consumption of MCT elevates blood ketone levels, mimicking the ketogenic diet, which has been hypothesized to attenuate chemotherapy-related toxicities. EGCG, a green tea extract, affects many pathways that can reduce the development of drug resistance and cancer robustness in tumor cells. Curcumin has anti-tumor, anti-oxidative, and anti-hepatotoxic activities, as well as neuroprotective effects. Sulforaphane (SFN), a glucoinolate in broccoli sprouts can modulate multiple cellular targets related to cancer development, as in animal models.1 Through the prevention of chemotherapy side effects, this technology allows chemotherapeutic cancer treatment to be maximally effective by eliminating the need to reduce dosage or even stop treatment due to toxic side effects.