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Medications

Supplements and Cancer treatment

chemotherapy, radiation therapy

Critical

St. John's WortCriticalStrong evidence

St. John's wort weakens several cancer drugs. It lowers levels of irinotecan, imatinib, docetaxel and others.

  1. 01NIH NCCIH — St. John's Wort

Caution

NACCautionMechanism-based

Antioxidants may interfere with cancer treatment. Some chemotherapy and radiation work partly through oxidative damage; high-dose antioxidants could reduce their effect. Discuss every supplement with your oncology team.

  1. 01NIH NCCIH — Antioxidant Supplements: What You Need To Know
Vitamin CCautionMechanism-based

Antioxidants may interfere with cancer treatment. Some chemotherapy and radiation work partly through oxidative damage; high-dose antioxidants could reduce their effect. Discuss every supplement with your oncology team.

  1. 01NIH NCCIH — Antioxidant Supplements: What You Need To Know
ResveratrolCautionMechanism-based

Antioxidants may interfere with cancer treatment. Some chemotherapy and radiation work partly through oxidative damage; high-dose antioxidants could reduce their effect. Discuss every supplement with your oncology team.

  1. 01NIH NCCIH — Antioxidant Supplements: What You Need To Know
CurcuminCautionMechanism-based

Antioxidants may interfere with cancer treatment. Some chemotherapy and radiation work partly through oxidative damage; high-dose antioxidants could reduce their effect. Discuss every supplement with your oncology team.

  1. 01NIH NCCIH — Antioxidant Supplements: What You Need To Know
CoQ10CautionMechanism-based

Antioxidants may interfere with cancer treatment. Some chemotherapy and radiation work partly through oxidative damage; high-dose antioxidants could reduce their effect. Discuss every supplement with your oncology team.

  1. 01NIH NCCIH — Antioxidant Supplements: What You Need To Know
FisetinCautionMechanism-based

Antioxidants may interfere with cancer treatment. Some chemotherapy and radiation work partly through oxidative damage; high-dose antioxidants could reduce their effect. Discuss every supplement with your oncology team.

  1. 01NIH NCCIH — Antioxidant Supplements: What You Need To Know
NMNCautionAnimal / lab only

NAD⁺ boosters and cancer: unknown. NAD⁺ supports cell metabolism, including in tumors in some lab models. Avoid unless your oncologist agrees.

  1. 01Ghanem MS et al. Inhibitors of NAD+ production in cancer treatment: state of the art and perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2024.
Green Tea ExtractCautionAnimal / lab only

Green tea extract and bortezomib. EGCG blocked the cancer drug bortezomib in lab and animal studies. Avoid during treatment unless your oncologist agrees.

  1. 01Golden EB et al. Green tea polyphenols block the anticancer effects of bortezomib and other boronic acid-based proteasome inhibitors. Blood 2009.
QuercetinCautionMechanism-based

Antioxidants may interfere with cancer treatment. Some chemotherapy and radiation work partly through oxidative damage; high-dose antioxidants could reduce their effect. Discuss every supplement with your oncology team.

  1. 01NIH NCCIH — Antioxidant Supplements: What You Need To Know
Alpha-Lipoic AcidCautionMechanism-based

Antioxidants may interfere with cancer treatment. Some chemotherapy and radiation work partly through oxidative damage; high-dose antioxidants could reduce their effect. Discuss every supplement with your oncology team.

  1. 01NIH NCCIH — Antioxidant Supplements: What You Need To Know
AstaxanthinCautionMechanism-based

Antioxidants may interfere with cancer treatment. Some chemotherapy and radiation work partly through oxidative damage; high-dose antioxidants could reduce their effect. Discuss every supplement with your oncology team.

  1. 01NIH NCCIH — Antioxidant Supplements: What You Need To Know
Vitamin ECautionMechanism-based

Antioxidants may interfere with cancer treatment. Some chemotherapy and radiation work partly through oxidative damage; high-dose antioxidants could reduce their effect. Discuss every supplement with your oncology team.

  1. 01NIH NCCIH — Antioxidant Supplements: What You Need To Know
Nicotinamide Riboside (NR)CautionAnimal / lab only

NAD⁺ boosters and cancer: unknown. NAD⁺ supports cell metabolism, including in tumors in some lab models. Avoid unless your oncologist agrees.

  1. 01Ghanem MS et al. Inhibitors of NAD+ production in cancer treatment: state of the art and perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2024.
PterostilbeneCautionMechanism-based

Antioxidants may interfere with cancer treatment. Some chemotherapy and radiation work partly through oxidative damage; high-dose antioxidants could reduce their effect. Discuss every supplement with your oncology team.

  1. 01NIH NCCIH — Antioxidant Supplements: What You Need To Know
SulforaphaneCautionMechanism-based

Antioxidants may interfere with cancer treatment. Some chemotherapy and radiation work partly through oxidative damage; high-dose antioxidants could reduce their effect. Discuss every supplement with your oncology team.

  1. 01NIH NCCIH — Antioxidant Supplements: What You Need To Know
ErgothioneineCautionMechanism-based

Antioxidants may interfere with cancer treatment. Some chemotherapy and radiation work partly through oxidative damage; high-dose antioxidants could reduce their effect. Discuss every supplement with your oncology team.

  1. 01NIH NCCIH — Antioxidant Supplements: What You Need To Know
HydroxytyrosolCautionMechanism-based

Antioxidants may interfere with cancer treatment. Some chemotherapy and radiation work partly through oxidative damage; high-dose antioxidants could reduce their effect. Discuss every supplement with your oncology team.

  1. 01NIH NCCIH — Antioxidant Supplements: What You Need To Know
Check your stack with Cancer treatment

Common questions

Can I take St. John's Wort with Cancer treatment?

St. John's wort weakens several cancer drugs. It lowers levels of irinotecan, imatinib, docetaxel and others.

Can I take NAC with Cancer treatment?

Antioxidants may interfere with cancer treatment. Some chemotherapy and radiation work partly through oxidative damage; high-dose antioxidants could reduce their effect. Discuss every supplement with your oncology team.

Can I take Vitamin C with Cancer treatment?

Antioxidants may interfere with cancer treatment. Some chemotherapy and radiation work partly through oxidative damage; high-dose antioxidants could reduce their effect. Discuss every supplement with your oncology team.

Can I take Resveratrol with Cancer treatment?

Antioxidants may interfere with cancer treatment. Some chemotherapy and radiation work partly through oxidative damage; high-dose antioxidants could reduce their effect. Discuss every supplement with your oncology team.

Can I take Curcumin with Cancer treatment?

Antioxidants may interfere with cancer treatment. Some chemotherapy and radiation work partly through oxidative damage; high-dose antioxidants could reduce their effect. Discuss every supplement with your oncology team.

Can I take CoQ10 with Cancer treatment?

Antioxidants may interfere with cancer treatment. Some chemotherapy and radiation work partly through oxidative damage; high-dose antioxidants could reduce their effect. Discuss every supplement with your oncology team.

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