Antioxidants improve the quality of life in the face of cancer

• April 24, 2024

Patients with head cancer Y neck present a better quality of life when receiving a capsule antioxidants daily, demonstrates a study conducted by Karina Villaseñor Mendoza , graduated from the Bachelor of Nutrition and Food Science of the Universidad Iberoamericana.

In order to evaluate the effect of a supplement With antioxidants in patients with head and neck cancer in stages III and IV during oncological treatment, Karina randomly provided a daily treatment with placebo and a supplement with antioxidants. At the same time, he evaluated the quality of life, weight and body mass index of each patient before and after 42 days of treatment .

The study was conducted in 5 patients from the oncology unit of the General Hospital of Mexico, two received placebo and three supplement; the latter showed a better quality of life compared to the former, presented less symptomatology and also had less weightloss , only three kilograms over the 42 days, while those who took placebo dropped 11 kilos.

Worldwide, the Cancer It is one of the main causes of death. The most used treatments to fight this disease are the chemo and radiotherapy , who intend to eliminate the tumor and prolong life. However, they are associated with an increase in oxidative stress and side effects that affect the quality of life of patients.

Cancer patients have low levels of antioxidants and a deterioration in the activity of the enzyme system that harms tissues Y cells caused by the damage of proteins, DNA, lipids and carbohydrates, which is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

Treatments to fight cancer have side effects such as infections, loss of taste, lack of sensitivity, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting that result in a decrease in food intake leading to a state of malnutrition Y cachexia which is characterized by acute weight loss, fat and muscle mass, anorexia and early satiety, fatigue, anemia, hypoalbuminemia, progressive weakness, immunosuppression, muscular atrophy, in addition to suffering psychological and social alterations.

The antioxidant supplement supplied to the patients was composed of beta-carotene, vitamin C , Vitamin E , selenium, zinc oxide and extracts of ginkgo biloba and of panax ginseng .

Karina Villaseñor Mendoza received the Laudatory Mention in May 2010 awarded by the Universidad Iberoamericana to students with the best research projects due to its scientific or academic relevance.

Source: Universidad Iberoamericana Distrito Federal