Micronutrient Food Supplements in Patients with Gastro-Intestinal and Hepatic Cancers

Abstract

Colorectal carcinogenesis is the second most common cause of mortality across all types of malignancies, followed by hepatic and stomach cancers. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are key approaches to treating cancer patients, but these carry major concerns, such as a high risk of side effects, poor accessibility, and the non-selective nature of chemotherapeutics. A number of natural products have been identified as countering various forms of cancer with fewer side effects. The potential impact of vitamins and minerals on long-term health, cognition, healthy development, bone formation, and aging has been supported by experimental and epidemiological studies. Successful treatment may thus be highly influenced by the nutritional status of patients. An insufficient diet could lead to detrimental effects on immune status and tolerance to treatment, affecting the ability of chemotherapy to destroy cancerous cells. In recent decades, most cancer patients have been taking vitamins and minerals to improve standard therapy and/or to decrease the undesirable side effects of the treatment together with the underlying disease. On the other hand, taking dietary supplements during cancer therapy may affect the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Thus, micronutrients in complementary oncology must be selected appropriately and should be taken at the right time. Here, the potential impact of micronutrients on gastro-intestinal and hepatic cancers is explored and their molecular targets are laid down.

Zinc’s Association with the CmPn/CmP Signaling Network in Breast Cancer Tumorigenesis

“…To date, some notable progress has been made in this area [ 66 ]. As an essential micronutrient in foods and mineral supplements, zinc has been examined in many clinical trials for the possible prevention of gynecological cancers [ 64 ], like breast [ 26 ] and ovarian cancers [ 65 ], gastrointestinal and hepatic cancers [ 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 ], and lung [ 71 ] and oral cancers [ 72 ], in addition to cardiovascular disease (CVD) [ 73 , 74 ]. However, if breast cancers sequester and use more zinc than normal cells, therapeutic use of an excessive amount of zinc needs to be examined in animal models before any attempt at clinical trials for cancer treatment.…”

The Role of Chosen Essential Elements (Zn, Cu, Se, Fe, Mn) in Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMPs) Dedicated to Oncology Patients—Critical Review: State-of-the-Art

“…The Cu/Zn ratio can be used as a biochemical marker in such patients [ 28 ]. Acute acquired zinc deficiency conditions have also been documented, mainly in patients dependent on zinc-free intravenous nutrition [ 29 ]. Optimal levels of zinc in the body can also help reduce risk factors for cancer development, but this requires further study [ 30 ].…”

ROS-responsive Galactosylated-nanoparticles with Doxorubicin Entrapment for Triple Negative Breast Cancer Therapy

“…More importantly, repeated and high doses of chemotherapeutics can cause severe damages such as cardiotoxicity and immunosuppression. 8 Herein, it is imperative to develop a targeted delivery system for TNBC therapy. Fortunately, versatile nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems, polymers, dendrimers, liposomes, and inorganic nanoparticles, have been exploited as a promising approach to improve the original pharmaceutical and pharmacological effects of these drugs.…”