NUTRACEUTICALS AS ADJUVANT TREATMENT IN CHEMOTHERAPY FOR CANCER

Dr. Sonia*

ABSTRACT

Treatment of cancer in contemporary science includes chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and biologically based therapies each contribute unintended side effects compromising the maintenance of health and nutritional well-being. Among these complications are nausea and vomiting, changes in taste, pain with fatigue, and changes in bowel habits. As the course of therapy abates, some of these symptoms resolve while others persist, especially prolonged aversion to certain foods due to altered taste and changes in bowel habit. Altering a diet that includes consumption of beneficial phytochemicals can influence the balance and availability of dietary chemopreventive agents. Nutraceuticals can significantly raise natural killer cells function and tumor necrosis factor and thus aggressive combination of immuno-active nutraceuticals and it is very important for the patients undergoing chemotherapy because in that stage, requirement for antioxidant compounds increases. Thus, supplementation with micronutrients as adjuvant in cancer patients may prove to be helpful. Hence Nutraceuticals play an important role as adjuvant during and after chemotherapy.

Keywords: Cancer, Nutraceuticals, Chemotherapy, Diet, Nutrients.