| Many people believe that Vitamin E is beneficial, and | | | | includes radiation therapy, as well as surgery and |
| therefore take Vitamin E supplements. Despite the | | | | chemotherapy. |
| absence of proven advantages, antioxidant vitamins | | | | Nearly half of the patients received 400 IU |
| are widely used for prolonged periods of time and at | | | | (International Units) of Vitamin E and the other half |
| high doses by healthy people, those at risk for | | | | received placebo, an inactive substance. The people in |
| cardiovascular disease and cancer, and by individuals | | | | the former group continued to use Vitamin E for |
| with cancer. | | | | three years after radiation therapy. Patients were |
| Intuitively, one would think that Vitamin E protects | | | | followed for a total of six and a half years. |
| the body from the toxic effects of radiation. Thus, | | | | Outcome |
| many people take Vitamin E during radiation therapy, | | | | The results of the study were astonishing and |
| hoping it will reduce potential side effects, but do not | | | | revealed not only that Vitamin E was not beneficial, |
| report it to their physicians. | | | | but in fact, was associated with a nearly 40% |
| Study Design | | | | increase in the risk of death when compared to |
| To test whether or not Vitamin E administration | | | | those counterparts who received a placebo. |
| during radiation therapy could prevent second cancers | | | | Conclusions |
| from developing in the future, a clinical trial was | | | | The researchers concluded that is Vitamin E is not |
| conducted in Canada. Its results were published | | | | protective, and in fact, it might actually be harmful to |
| recently in The International Journal of Cancer. Five | | | | patients with head and neck cancer who are |
| hundred forty patients with early stage cancer of the | | | | receiving radiation therapy. |
| head and neck who were to undergo radiation | | | | Discussion |
| therapy were the subjects of the study. | | | | Vitamin E falls into the category of anti-oxidants. |
| Head and neck cancer originates in the area of the | | | | Theoretically, the adverse outcome can be attributed |
| head and neck and includes malignant tumors of the | | | | to Vitamin E having a paradoxical effect, that is, |
| mouth, throat, voice box, sinuses and lymph glands in | | | | instead of serving as an anti-oxidant, Vitamin E might |
| the neck The most common type of head and neck | | | | have promoted oxidation; by displacing other |
| cancer is squamous (pronounced SKWAY-miss) cell | | | | antioxidants within the cells of the body, these cells |
| cancer, which describes the type of cell from which | | | | might have become more vulnerable to damage from |
| the cancer originated. The standard of care for | | | | oxidation. |
| squamous cell cancer of the head and neck often | | | | |