For Which Cancer Types Should I Avoid Rosemary Supplement?

Highlights

Nutritional supplements and extracts like Rosemary have benefits and are used by cancer patients and those at-genetic risk of cancer. There is limited or hardly any clinical data available for use of nutritional supplements and foods in cancer patients. Generating clinical evidence of efficacy for cancer through a randomized clinical trial is further infeasible due to variations in genetics and cancer chemotherapy treatments across cancer patients. Hence a different and new approach is needed to find out for which cancers you should not take Rosemary supplement and why should not take them?

Is it okay to take Rosemary extracts or supplements for all cancer indications and any chemotherapy treatment? A common belief but a myth is that everything natural can only be of benefit and do no harm. For example, the use of grapefruit with certain medications is not recommended. Another example is the use of spinach with some blood thinning medications can cause adverse interactions and hence to be avoided. For cancer, nutrition including plant-based foods and supplements can influence outcomes and hence an extremely important decision which needs to be made. Hence NIH-National Cancer Institute has a website for nutrition for cancer care for patients which are generalized recommendations and not personalized for cancer indication and treatments.

A frequently asked question by cancer patients and those at-risk is “What Foods and Nutritional Supplements could be beneficial over others for me?”. “Who should not take an extract or supplement and why?”. Generic guidelines like eating only plant-based-foods or avoiding all sugar or adopting a keto diet is a good start but not actionable and personalized enough.

To find answers to questions on extracts and nutritional supplements and foods requires knowledge of contained active ingredients; genetic mutation prevalence for cancer indication; understanding of underlying cancer biology; chemotherapy treatments and mechanism of actions of active ingredients.

Taking Rosemary extracts or nutritional supplements may benefit Primary High-Grade Neuroepithelial Tumor patients on Radiation treatment over Turmeric nutritional supplements. But Rosemary supplements or Rosemary extracts offer less benefit if on Radiation treatment for Primary Esophageal Neuroendocrine Tumor compared to Sarpgandhaghan Vati. Similarly, taking nutritional supplements Rosemary may benefit healthy individuals who are at genetic risk of cancer due to mutation of gene CTNNB1 over Spirulina. But avoid nutritional supplements Rosemary when at genetic risk of cancer due to mutation of gene FLT3.

The takeaway being – cancer, genomics, treatments and other personalized factors will influence decision making to questions like: Are extracts or nutritional supplements Rosemary beneficial and should not be taken? Why should Rosemary be not taken? Who should not take Rosemary? What are side effects of Rosemary with Radiation chemotherapy? What are the benefits of Rosemary for cancer? Can Rosemary help fight cancer and so on.

Whenever there are changes in chemotherapy treatments or cancer tissue genetics – the nutrition may change and hence needs to be re-evaluated. Do consider factors like cancer indication, ongoing chemotherapy treatments and nutritional supplements, age, gender, weight, height, lifestyle and genetics for personalization of nutrition.

Brief Overview

Use of nutritional supplements – vitamins, herbs, minerals, probiotics, and other specialty categories are increasing. Supplements are high concentrations of active ingredients which are also found in different foods. Difference between supplements and foods being that foods contain more than one active ingredient at much lower concentrations. Every active ingredient in an extract or nutritional supplement or food has a unique mechanism of action which can influence nutrition decisions.

These are some example questions which nutrition planning should help answer for you. Should you take supplements Rosemary? Should you take it when at genetic risk of cancer for mutation of gene CTNNB1? Should you take it when at genetic risk of cancer for mutation of gene FLT3? Should you take it when diagnosed with Primary Esophageal Neuroendocrine Tumor? Should you take it when diagnosed with Primary High-Grade Neuroepithelial Tumor? Should you take it when on Radiation treatment? Should you continue taking it if you change your treatment from Radiation to Radiation? So a general explanation like – it is organic and plant-based or it increases immunity is not sufficient information for making a decision of use of Rosemary extracts and nutritional supplements.

Cancer

Genetic variations across cancer patients can be different and hence no two cancers are alike. The improved availability of “personalized to genetics” chemotherapy treatments and cancer disease monitoring via blood and saliva have been significant factors to improve outcomes. The earlier the lifestyle and treatment intervention – the better the influence on outcome. Genetic testing has the potential to assess cancer risk and susceptibility early. But for at-risk individuals besides regular monitoring in most cases there are no therapeutic treatment intervention options available. After diagnosis with cancer such as Primary High-Grade Neuroepithelial Tumor or Primary Esophageal Neuroendocrine Tumor, the treatments get personalized to tumor genomics and factors like staging of disease, age and gender. During cancer remission (after treatment cycle is complete) – monitoring is used for assessment of any relapse and accordingly decide on next steps. A large majority of cancer patients and those at-risk may take nutritional supplements like Rosemary.

So the question is that are all genetic risks and cancer indications to be considered uniformly when making decisions on the use of Rosemary extracts or nutritional supplements? Are the biochemical pathway implications of genetic risk for cancer due to mutation of gene CTNNB1 the same as due to mutation of gene FLT3? Are the implications of Primary High-Grade Neuroepithelial Tumor the same as Primary Esophageal Neuroendocrine Tumor? Is it one and the same if you are on treatment with Radiation or Radiation?

Rosemary – An Extract or Nutritional Supplement

Rosemary is an aromatic plant with medicinal properties, native to the Mediterranean region. It is used as a condiment in culinary dishes. Rosemary is very popular and is now grown all over the world. It has strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Following are some of the potential health benefits of Rosemary: 

• May boost immunity
• May improve brain function
• May improve blood circulation
• May relieve pain
• May help in digestion

However, excess intake of Rosemary supplements can lead to side-effects such as :

• Pulmonary edema
• Vomiting
• Muscle Spasms

Rosemary supplements contain many active ingredients including Myrcene, Vitamin A, Eucalyptol, Beta-caryophyllene and Limonene at different concentration levels. The molecular pathways which are regulated by Rosemary include Notch Signaling, JAK-STAT Signaling and Focal Adhesion. These biochemical pathways directly or indirectly regulate specific cancer molecular endpoints like growth, spread and death of cancer cells. Because of this biological regulation – for cancer nutrition, the right choice of supplements like Rosemary individually or in combination is an important decision to be made. When making decisions on the use of supplement Rosemary over other nutritional supplements – do consider all these factors.

Who Should not take Rosemary Supplements and Why?

There is no easy way to answer the question “For which cancers should I not chooseRosemary nutritional supplements”. Just like the same chemotherapy treatment does not work across patients, for similar reasons Rosemary in comparison with other nutritional supplements may be beneficial or not. Along with which cancer and associated genetics – the ongoing treatments, lifestyle habits, height, weight and food allergies are all factors in deciding if Rosemary should be avoided or not and why.

1. Will Rosemary Supplements benefit Primary Esophageal Neuroendocrine Tumor patients undergoing Radiation treatment?

Primary Esophageal Neuroendocrine Tumor is characterized and driven by specific genetic mutations like TP53, RB1 and APEX1 leading to biochemical pathway changes in Notch Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints, Apoptosis and DNA Repair. A cancer treatment like Radiation works through a specific pathway mechanism of action. The goal is to have a good overlap between the treatment and cancer driving pathways for a personalized approach which is effective. In such a condition any food or nutritional supplement which has a contrary effect to the treatment or reduces the overlap should be avoided. As an example, Rosemary supplement should not be taken for Primary Esophageal Neuroendocrine Tumor along with treatment Radiation. Rosemary supplement impacts the biochemical pathway called Notch Signaling which either promotes drivers of the disease and/or nullifies the treatment effect. Some of the factors which should be considered when choosing nutrition are type of cancer, treatments and supplements being taken currently (if any

2. Will Rosemary Supplements benefit Primary High-Grade Neuroepithelial Tumor Patients undergoing Radiation Treatment?

Primary High-Grade Neuroepithelial Tumor is characterized and driven by specific genetic mutations like ASXL1, DNMT3A and MYCN leading to biochemical pathway changes in Notch Signaling, Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics, Suppressive Histone Methylation, Focal Adhesion and Cell Cycle. A cancer treatment like Radiation works through specific pathway mechanisms. The goal is to have a good overlap between the treatment and cancer driving pathways for a personalized approach. In such a condition any food or nutritional supplement which supports treatment action or improves the overlap should be considered. As an example, Rosemary supplements should be considered for Primary High-Grade Neuroepithelial Tumor along with the treatment Radiation. Rosemary supplement impacts pathways/processes like Notch Signaling which either obstruct drivers of Primary High-Grade Neuroepithelial Tumor and/or improve Radiation treatment effect.

3. What about Rosemary Supplements for Healthy Individuals with FLT3 Mutation associated Genetic Risk?

Different companies offer panels of genes to be tested for assessing genetic risk to different cancers. These panels cover genes associated with cancers of the breast, ovary, uterus, prostate, and gastrointestinal system and others. Genetic testing of these genes may confirm a diagnosis and help guide treatment and management decisions. Identification of a disease-causing variant may also guide testing and diagnosis of at-risk relatives. FLT3 is one of the genes generally available in panels for cancer risk testing.

FLT3 mutation causes biochemical pathways/processes like JAK-STAT Signaling, MAPK Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling to get impacted. These pathways are direct or indirect drivers of cancer molecular endpoints. Rosemary should not be taken when the genetic panel identifies mutation of FLT3 for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Rosemary impacts pathways/processes like JAK-STAT Signaling and creates adverse conditions with FLT3.

4. What about Rosemary Supplements for Healthy Individuals with CTNNB1 Mutation associated Genetic Risk?

CTNNB1 is one of the genes available in panels for cancer risk testing. CTNNB1 mutation causes biochemical pathways/processes like Focal Adhesion, Adherens junction and Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition to get impacted. These pathways are direct or indirect drivers of cancer molecular endpoints. Rosemary supplements may be considered when the genetic panel identifies mutations in CTNNB1 for Adrenocortical Carcinoma. Rosemary impacts pathways/processes like Focal Adhesion and creates a canceling effect in those individuals with CTNNB1 mutation.

* Other Factors are also included like BMI, Treatments, Lifestyle Habits

In Conclusion

It is important to remember that cancer chemotherapy treatments and nutrition are never the same for everyone. Food and nutritional supplements like Rosemary are chosen by you and can influence outcomes.

“What should I eat?” is a commonly asked question by cancer patients and those at-risk. The answer to this question depends on cancer indication, underlying genetics, current chemotherapy treatments, food allergies, lifestyle information, and food preferences.

The addon.life approach to nutrition personalization uses knowledge of active ingredients contained in foods and nutritional supplements, cancer biology, chemotherapy treatment action and genetic mutation prevalence across cancer indications. addon.life team of clinicians, clinical scientists and engineers are experts in cancer biology focusing only on nutrition personalization for cancer patients and those at-risk.

What food you eat and which supplements you take is a decision you make. Your decision should include consideration of the cancer gene mutations, which cancer, ongoing treatments and supplements, any allergies, lifestyle information, weight, height and habits.

The nutrition planning for cancer from addon is not based on internet searches. It automates the decision making for you based on molecular science implemented by our scientists and software engineers. Irrespective of whether you care to understand the underlying biochemical molecular pathways or not - for nutrition planning for cancer that understanding is needed.

Get started NOW with your nutrition planning by answering questions on the name of cancer, genetic mutations, ongoing treatments and supplements, any allergies, habits, lifestyle, age group and gender.

References

• cBioPortal for Cancer Genomics
• Adhesion to the extracellular matrix is positively regulated by retinoic acid in HepG2 cells.
• Modulation of STAT3 Signaling, Cell Redox Defenses and Cell Cycle Checkpoints by β-Caryophyllene in Cholangiocarcinoma Cells: Possible Mechanisms Accounting for Doxorubicin Chemosensitization and Chemoprevention.
• cBioPortal for Cancer Genomics
• Cancer therapy shapes the fitness landscape of clonal hematopoiesis.