Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund
Je nach Tumorentität und Geschlecht supplementieren bis zu 90% der onkologischen Patienten ihre Therapie mit antioxidativen und immunstabilisierenden Mikronährstoffen, häufig ohne das Wissen des behandelnden Arztes.
Methoden
Anhand der publizierten wissenschaftlichen Daten und anderweitigen verfügbaren Informationen, z. B. Homepages, ESPEN-Guidelines, wurden Alternativen zur Schulmedizin beurteilt.
Ergebnisse
Obwohl berechtigte Bedenken von onkologischer Seite bestehen, dass Nahrungsergänzungsmittel die Effektivität der Chemo- oder Strahlentherapie beeinträchtigen könnten, geben aktuelle Studien zunehmend Hinweise darauf, dass die medikationsorientierte Supplementierung von Antioxidanzien und anderen Mikronährstoffen wie Selen, L-Carnitin und Vitamin D das Ansprechen auf die antineoplastischen Verfahren (CT, RT) durch eine bessere Compliance, eine verringerte Rate an Nebenwirkungen und somit auch an Therapieabbrüchen steigern, sondern auch die Lebensqualität und die Prognose der onkologischen Patienten verbessern kann.
Schlussfolgerung
Onkologisch tätige Ärzte sollten über die Bedeutung von Selen und anderen Mikronährstoffen sowie potenziellen Interaktionen mit der Krebstherapie informiert sein.
Abstract
Context
Many patients being treated for cancer use micronutrient supplements with the intention to complement the cancer treatment or help them cope with the therapy and disease-associated side-effects. Up to 90 % of cancer patients supplement with antioxidants without the knowledge of the treating physician.
Methods
Alternatives to textbook medicine were assessed from published scientific data and otherwise available information, e.g. homepages, ESPEN-Guidelines.
Results
There are many concerns that antioxidants might decrease the effectiveness of chemotherapy but increasing evidence suggests a benefit when antioxidants and other micronutrients, such as selenium, L-carnitine and vitamin D are added to conventional cytotoxic therapies.
Conclusion
However, it is imperative that physicians explore the use of antioxidant and other micronutrient supplements with cancer patients and educate them about potentially negative and also potentially beneficial effects.

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Gröber, U., Mücke, R., Adamietz, I. et al. Komplementärer Einsatz von Antioxidanzien und Mikronährstoffen in der Onkologie. Onkologe 19, 136–143 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00761-012-2385-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00761-012-2385-9