Positive Health Online

Abstract

BABU and colleagues, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Dr. ALM Post-Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, India. studied the effects of co-administration of vitamins C and E with tamoxifen treatment in women with breast cancer.

Background

Tamoxifen, a non-steroidal antioestrogen, has been used in the hormonal treatment for breast cancer. The hepatic oestrogen effect of tamoxifen causes severe triglyceridaemia. The combined effects of tamoxifen, vitamin C and vitamin E upon plasma lipid and lipoprotein is important, because vitamin C and vitamin E encumber the lipid abnormalities instigated by tamoxifen.

Methodology

The authors carried out supplementation with vitamin C (500 mg) and vitamin E (400 mg) for a period of 90 days together with tamoxifen (10 mg twice daily) to postmenopausal breast cancer patients.

Results

In the tamoxifen-treated patients, total cholesterol (TC), free cholesterol (FC), phospholipids (PL), free fatty acids (FFA), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) levels were decreased and the triglycerides (TG), ester cholesterol (EC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL) levels were increased. Combination therapy reduced all the cholesterol levels and VLDL, LDL. TG levels were significantly decreased and HDL, EC levels were significantly increased.

Conclusion

These results suggest that tamoxifen treatment is the most effective when co-administered with vitamin C and vitamin E, which reduce the tamoxifen-induced hypertriglyceridaemia.

References

Babu JR et al. Salubrious effect of vitamin E and vitamin E on tamoxifen-treated women in breast cancer with reference to plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels. Cancer Letters 151(1): 1-5. 3 Apr 2000.

Comment

I look forward to seeing these vitamins (C and E) being added to breast cancer tamoxifen regimes.