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Sarris J, Ravindran A, Yatham LN, Marx W, Rucklidge JJ, McIntyre RS, Akhondzadeh S, Benedetti F, Caneo C, Cramer H, Cribb L, de Manincor M, Dean O, Deslandes AC, Freeman MP, Gangadhar B, Harvey BH, Kasper S, Lake J, Lopresti A, Lu L, Metri NJ, Mischoulon D, Ng CH, Nishi D, Rahimi R, Seedat S, Sinclair J, Su KP, Zhang ZJ, Berk M. Clinician guidelines for the treatment of psychiatric disorders with nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals: The World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) and Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) Taskforce. World J Biol Psychiatry 2022; 23:424-455. [PMID: 35311615 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2021.2013041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The therapeutic use of nutrient-based 'nutraceuticals' and plant-based 'phytoceuticals' for the treatment of mental disorders is common; however, despite recent research progress, there have not been any updated global clinical guidelines since 2015. To address this, the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) and the Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Disorders (CANMAT) convened an international taskforce involving 31 leading academics and clinicians from 15 countries, between 2019 and 2021. These guidelines are aimed at providing a definitive evidence-informed approach to assist clinicians in making decisions around the use of such agents for major psychiatric disorders. We also provide detail on safety and tolerability, and clinical advice regarding prescription (e.g. indications, dosage), in addition to consideration for use in specialised populations. METHODS The methodology was based on the WFSBP guidelines development process. Evidence was assessed based on the WFSBP grading of evidence (and was modified to focus on Grade A level evidence - meta-analysis or two or more RCTs - due to the breadth of data available across all nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals across major psychiatric disorders). The taskforce assessed both the 'level of evidence' (LoE) (i.e. meta-analyses or RCTs) and the assessment of the direction of the evidence, to determine whether the intervention was 'Recommended' (+++), 'Provisionally Recommended' (++), 'Weakly Recommended' (+), 'Not Currently Recommended' (+/-), or 'Not Recommended' (-) for a particular condition. Due to the number of clinical trials now available in the field, we firstly examined the data from our two meta-reviews of meta-analyses (nutraceuticals conducted in 2019, and phytoceuticals in 2020). We then performed a search of additional relevant RCTs and reported on both these data as the primary drivers supporting our clinical recommendations. Lower levels of evidence, including isolated RCTs, open label studies, case studies, preclinical research, and interventions with only traditional or anecdotal use, were not assessed. RESULTS Amongst nutraceuticals with Grade A evidence, positive directionality and varying levels of support (recommended, provisionally recommended, or weakly recommended) was found for adjunctive omega-3 fatty acids (+++), vitamin D (+), adjunctive probiotics (++), adjunctive zinc (++), methylfolate (+), and adjunctive s-adenosyl methionine (SAMe) (+) in the treatment of unipolar depression. Monotherapy omega-3 (+/-), folic acid (-), vitamin C (-), tryptophan (+/-), creatine (+/-), inositol (-), magnesium (-), and n-acetyl cysteine (NAC) (+/-) and SAMe (+/-) were not supported for this use. In bipolar disorder, omega-3 had weak support for bipolar depression (+), while NAC was not currently recommended (+/-). NAC was weakly recommended (+) in the treatment of OCD-related disorders; however, no other nutraceutical had sufficient evidence in any anxiety-related disorder. Vitamin D (+), NAC (++), methylfolate (++) were recommended to varying degrees in the treatment of the negative symptoms in schizophrenia, while omega-3 fatty acids were not, although evidence suggests a role for prevention of transition to psychosis in high-risk youth, with potential pre-existing fatty acid deficiency. Micronutrients (+) and vitamin D (+) were weakly supported in the treatment of ADHD, while omega-3 (+/-) and omega-9 fatty acids (-), acetyl L carnitine (-), and zinc (+/-) were not supported. Phytoceuticals with supporting Grade A evidence and positive directionality included St John's wort (+++), saffron (++), curcumin (++), and lavender (+) in the treatment of unipolar depression, while rhodiola use was not supported for use in mood disorders. Ashwagandha (++), galphimia (+), and lavender (++) were modestly supported in the treatment of anxiety disorders, while kava (-) and chamomile (+/-) were not recommended for generalised anxiety disorder. Ginkgo was weakly supported in the adjunctive treatment of negative symptoms of schizophrenia (+), but not supported in the treatment of ADHD (+/-). With respect to safety and tolerability, all interventions were deemed to have varying acceptable levels of safety and tolerability for low-risk over-the-counter use in most circumstances. Quality and standardisation of phytoceuticals was also raised by the taskforce as a key limiting issue for firmer confidence in these agents. Finally, the taskforce noted that such use of nutraceuticals or phytoceuticals be primarily recommended (where supportive evidence exists) adjunctively within a standard medical/health professional care model, especially in cases of more severe mental illness. Some meta-analyses reviewed contained data from heterogenous studies involving poor methodology. Isolated RCTs and other data such as open label or case series were not included, and it is recognised that an absence of data does not imply lack of efficacy. CONCLUSIONS Based on the current data and clinician input, a range of nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals were given either a supportive recommendation or a provisional recommendation across a range of various psychiatric disorders. However several had only a weak endorsement for potential use; for a few it was not possible to reach a clear recommendation direction, largely due to mixed study findings; while some other agents showed no obvious therapeutic benefit and were clearly not recommended for use. It is the intention of these guidelines to inform psychiatric/medical, and health professional practice globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerome Sarris
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, Australia.,The Professorial Unit, The Melbourne Clinic; Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Arun Ravindran
- University of Toronto and Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Wolfgang Marx
- Deakin University, IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia
| | - Julia J Rucklidge
- School of Psychology, Speech, and Hearing, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Roger S McIntyre
- University of Toronto, Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, Toronto, Canada
| | - Shahin Akhondzadeh
- Psychiatry and Psychology Research Centre, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Francesco Benedetti
- School of Medicine, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.,Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Constanza Caneo
- Departamento de Psiquiatría, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Holger Cramer
- Department of Internal and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Lachlan Cribb
- The Professorial Unit, The Melbourne Clinic; Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Michael de Manincor
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, Australia
| | - Olivia Dean
- Deakin University, IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia.,Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria, Parkville, Australia
| | - Andrea Camaz Deslandes
- Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marlene P Freeman
- Women's Mental Health Program, Department of Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, United States
| | - Bangalore Gangadhar
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India
| | - Brian H Harvey
- Division of Pharmacology, Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Siegfried Kasper
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - James Lake
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, Australia.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona, Tuscon, United States
| | - Adrian Lopresti
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia
| | - Lin Lu
- Institute of Mental Health and Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University and National Institute of Drug Dependence, Beijing, China
| | - Najwa-Joelle Metri
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, Australia
| | - David Mischoulon
- Depression Clinical and Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chee H Ng
- The Professorial Unit, The Melbourne Clinic; Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Daisuke Nishi
- Department of Mental Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Roja Rahimi
- Department of Traditional Pharmacy, School of Persian Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soraya Seedat
- Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Justin Sinclair
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, Australia
| | - Kuan-Pin Su
- Department of Psychiatry, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.,An-Nan Hospital, China Medical University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Zhang-Jin Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Chinese Medicine, the University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Michael Berk
- Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Deakin University, IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia.,Orygen, National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Centre for Youth Mental Health, Parkville, Australia
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Botturi A, Ciappolino V, Delvecchio G, Boscutti A, Viscardi B, Brambilla P. The Role and the Effect of Magnesium in Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review. Nutrients 2020; 12:nu12061661. [PMID: 32503201 PMCID: PMC7352515 DOI: 10.3390/nu12061661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Magnesium is an essential cation involved in many functions within the central nervous system, including transmission and intracellular signal transduction. Several studies have shown its usefulness in neurological and psychiatric diseases. Furthermore, it seems that magnesium levels are lowered in the course of several mental disorders, especially depression. Objectives: In this study, we wish to evaluate the presence of a relationship between the levels of magnesium and the presence of psychiatric pathology as well as the effectiveness of magnesium as a therapeutic supplementation. Methods: A systematic search of scientific records concerning magnesium in psychiatric disorders published from 2010 up to March 2020 was performed. We collected a total of 32 articles: 18 on Depressive Disorders (DD), four on Anxiety Disorders (AD), four on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), three on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), one on Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD), one on Schizophrenia (SCZ) and one on Eating Disorders (ED). Results: Twelve studies highlighted mainly positive results in depressive symptoms. Seven showed a significant correlation between reduced plasma magnesium values and depression measured with psychometric scales. Two papers reported improved depressive symptoms after magnesium intake, two in association with antidepressants, compared to controls. No significant association between magnesium serum levels and panic or Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) patients, in two distinct papers, was found. In two other papers, a reduced Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) score in depressed patients correlated with higher levels of magnesium and beneficial levels of magnesium in stressed patients was found. Two papers reported low levels of magnesium in association with ADHD. Only one of three papers showed lower levels of magnesium in ASD. ED and SCZ reported a variation in magnesium levels in some aspects of the disease. Conclusion: The results are not univocal, both in terms of the plasma levels and of therapeutic effects. However, from the available evidence, it emerged that supplementation with magnesium could be beneficial. Therefore, it is necessary to design ad hoc clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of magnesium alone or together with other drugs (antidepressants) in order to establish the correct use of this cation with potential therapeutic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Botturi
- Neurologic Clinic, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Valentina Ciappolino
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy; (V.C.); (A.B.); (B.V.); (P.B.)
| | - Giuseppe Delvecchio
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy;
| | - Andrea Boscutti
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy; (V.C.); (A.B.); (B.V.); (P.B.)
| | - Bianca Viscardi
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy; (V.C.); (A.B.); (B.V.); (P.B.)
| | - Paolo Brambilla
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy; (V.C.); (A.B.); (B.V.); (P.B.)
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy;
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McDaniel HR, LaGanke C, Bloom L, Goldberg S, Hensel J, Lantigua LA, Lages LC, Atlas SE, Woolger JM, Lewis JE. The Effect of Broad-Spectrum Dietary Supplementation on Quality of Life, Symptom Severity, and Functioning in Multiple Sclerosis. J Diet Suppl 2019; 17:718-732. [PMID: 31422724 DOI: 10.1080/19390211.2019.1651435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that exerts a significant quality-of-life toll on patients. According to the literature, broad-spectrum dietary supplementation including a variety of nutrients, polysaccharides, and compounds may improve the quality of life, functionality, and symptom severity in people with MS. Individuals (n = 15) diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) for an average of 12.4 years (SD = 7.4; R = 2, 25) were enrolled in a one-year open-label clinical trial in which they consumed a broad-spectrum dietary supplement regimen three times daily. Participants were assessed at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months with the following: (1) Functional Assessment of MS (FAMS), (2) the EQ-5D-3L, (3) Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI), (4) Health Conditions Discomfort Scale (HCDS), and (5) Self-Assessment of Severity of MS Symptoms Scale (SASMSSS). Participants included seven females and eight males (M age = 51.3 years; SD = 7.2; R = 38, 65). Few minor gastrointestinal effects were reported. At the end of the intervention, participants showed significant improvements in all outcome measures, particularly functionality on the FAMS, overall quality of life on the EQ-5D-3L, fewer depressive symptoms on the BDI, and improved severity of symptoms on the HCDS and the SASMSSS. Our results suggest that dietary supplementation containing a variety of nutrients can improve the quality of life, severity of disease symptoms, and functionality in MS patients. These findings are clinically promising for MS patients, given the lack of treatment options geared toward improving quality of life in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Laura Bloom
- Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Sharon Goldberg
- Department of Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | | | - Laura A Lantigua
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Lucas C Lages
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Steven E Atlas
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Judi M Woolger
- Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - John E Lewis
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
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5
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Ryszewska-Pokraśniewicz B, Mach A, Skalski M, Januszko P, Wawrzyniak ZM, Poleszak E, Nowak G, Pilc A, Radziwoń-Zaleska M. Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Unipolar Depression: A Placebo-Controlled Study and Review of the Importance of Dosing and Magnesium Status in the Therapeutic Response. Nutrients 2018; 10:nu10081014. [PMID: 30081500 PMCID: PMC6115747 DOI: 10.3390/nu10081014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Revised: 07/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal studies using tests and models have demonstrated that magnesium exerts an antidepressant effect. The literature contains few studies in humans involving attempts to augment antidepressant therapy with magnesium ions. The purpose of our study was to assess the efficacy and safety of antidepressant treatment, in combination with magnesium ions. A total of 37 participants with recurrent depressive disorder who developed a depressive episode were included in this study. As part of this double-blind study, treatment with the antidepressant fluoxetine was accompanied with either magnesium ions (120 mg/day as magnesium aspartate) or placebo. During an 8-week treatment period, each patient was monitored for any clinical abnormalities. Moreover, serum fluoxetine and magnesium levels were measured, and pharmaco-electroencephalography was performed. The fluoxetine + magnesium and fluoxetine + placebo groups showed no significant differences in either Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) scores or serum magnesium levels at any stage of treatment. Multivariate statistical analysis of the whole investigated group showed that the following parameters increased the odds of effective treatment: lower baseline HDRS scores, female gender, smoking, and treatment augmentation with magnesium. The parameters that increased the odds of remission were lower baseline HDRS scores, shorter history of disease, the presence of antidepressant-induced changes in the pharmaco-EEG profile at 6 h after treatment, and the fact of receiving treatment augmented with magnesium ions. The limitation of this study is a small sample size.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna Mach
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, 00-685 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Michał Skalski
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, 00-685 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Piotr Januszko
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, 00-685 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Zbigniew M Wawrzyniak
- Faculty of Electronics and Information Technology, Warsaw University of Technology, 00-685 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Ewa Poleszak
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland.
| | - Gabriel Nowak
- Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-343 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Andrzej Pilc
- Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-343 Kraków, Poland.
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Phelan D, Molero P, Martínez-González MA, Molendijk M. Magnesium and mood disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis. BJPsych Open 2018; 4:167-179. [PMID: 29897029 PMCID: PMC6034436 DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2018.22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Magnesium (Mg2+) has received considerable attention with regards to its potential role in the pathophysiology of the mood disorders, but the available evidence seems inconclusive.AimsTo review and quantitatively summarise the human literature on Mg2+ intake and Mg2+ blood levels in the mood disorders and the effects of Mg2+ supplements on mood. METHOD Systematic review and meta-analyses. RESULTS Adherence to a Mg2+-rich diet was negatively associated with depression in cross-sectional (odds ratio = 0.66) but not in prospective studies. Mg2+ levels in bodily fluids were on average higher in patients with a mood disorder (Hedge's g = 0.19), but only in patients treated with antidepressants and/or mood stabilisers. There was no evident association between Mg2+ levels and symptom severity. Mg2+ supplementation was associated with a decline in depressive symptoms in uncontrolled (g = -1.60) but not in placebo-controlled trials (g = -0.21). CONCLUSION Our results provide little evidence for the involvement of Mg2+ in the mood disorders.Declaration of interestNone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny Phelan
- Institute of Psychology,Clinical Psychology Unit,Leiden University,Leiden,The Netherlands
| | - Patricio Molero
- Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology,University Hospital,School of Medicine,University of Navarra,Pamplona,Navarra,Spain
| | - Miguel A Martínez-González
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health,School of Medicine,University of Navarra,Pamplona,Navarra,Spain,CIBER-OBN, Instituto de Salud Carlos III,Madrid,Spain, andDepartment of Nutrition,Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health,Boston,USA
| | - Marc Molendijk
- Institute of Psychology,Clinical Psychology Unit,Leiden University,Leiden,The Netherlands, andLeiden Institute for Brain and Cognition,Leiden University Medical Center,Leiden,The Netherlands
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Bazzan AJ, Zabrecky G, Wintering N, Newberg AB, Monti DA. Retrospective Evaluation of Clinical Experience With Intravenous Ascorbic Acid in Patients With Cancer. Integr Cancer Ther 2018; 17:912-920. [PMID: 29771164 PMCID: PMC6142079 DOI: 10.1177/1534735418775809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intravenous ascorbic acid (IV AA) has been used extensively in cancer patients throughout the United States. Currently, there are limited data on the safety and clinical effects of IV AA. The purpose of this study was to expand the current literature using a retrospective analysis of adverse events and symptomatic changes of IV AA in a large sample of cancer patients. METHODS We conducted a retrospective chart review of all patients receiving IV AA for cancer at the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital over a 7-year period. We assessed all reports of adverse events, laboratory findings, and hospital or emergency department admissions. We also reviewed quality-of-life data, including fatigue, nausea, pain, appetite, and mood. RESULTS There were 86 patients who received a total of 3034 doses of IV AA ranging from 50 to 150g. In all, 32 patients received only ascorbic acid as part of their cancer management (1197 doses), whereas 54 patients received ascorbic acid in conjunction with chemotherapy (1837 doses). The most common adverse events related to ascorbic acid were temporary nausea and discomfort at the injection site. All events reported in the ascorbic acid alone group were associated with less than 3% of the total number of infusions. Patients, overall, reported improvements in fatigue, pain, and mood while receiving ascorbic acid. CONCLUSIONS The results of this retrospective analysis support the growing evidence that IV AA is generally safe and well tolerated in patients with cancer, and may be useful in symptom management and improving quality of life.
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