Highlights
Nutritional supplements and extracts like Guggul 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 Guggul supplement and why should not take them?
Is it okay to take Guggul 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 indications 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 Guggul extracts or nutritional supplements may benefit Primary Uterine Malignant Mixed Mullerian Tumor patients on Cetuximab treatment over Soy Bean nutritional supplements. But Guggul supplements or Guggul extracts offer less benefit if on Cyclophosphamide treatment for Primary Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia compared to Costus. Similarly, taking nutritional supplements Guggul may benefit healthy individuals who are at genetic risk of cancer due to mutation of gene NRAS over Coconut.
The takeaway being – cancer, genomics, treatments and other personalized factors will influence decision making to questions like: Are extracts or nutritional supplements Guggul beneficial over Soy Bean and should not be taken? Why should Guggul be not taken? Who should not take Guggul? What are side effects of Guggul with Cyclophosphamide chemotherapy? What are the benefits of Guggul for cancer? Can Guggul 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 Guggul? Should you take it when at genetic risk of cancer for mutation of the gene NRAS? Should you take it when diagnosed with Primary Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia? Should you take it when diagnosed with Primary Uterine Malignant Mixed Mullerian Tumor? Should you take it when on Cetuximab treatment? Should you continue taking it if you change your treatment from Cetuximab to Cyclophosphamide? 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 Guggul 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 Uterine Malignant Mixed Mullerian Tumor or Primary Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia, 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 Guggul.
So the question is that are all genetic risks and cancer indications to be considered uniformly when making decisions on the use of Guggul extracts or nutritional supplements? Are the biochemical pathway implications of genetic risk for cancer due to mutation of gene NRAS the same? Are the implications of Primary Uterine Malignant Mixed Mullerian Tumor the same as Primary Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia? Is it one and the same if you are on treatment with Cyclophosphamide or Cetuximab?
Guggul – An Extract or Nutritional Supplement
Guggul is a fragrant resin produced by the Commiphora mukul tree, native to India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. It is considered to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and has been used in the Indian Ayurvedic Medicine for centuries for various health conditions. Following are some of the purported uses of Guggul:
- May help reduce symptoms associated with osteoarthritis (N Kimmatkar et al, Phytomedicine., 2003)
- May help reduce cholesterol (Saibal Das et al, J Diet Suppl., 2016)
- May help reduce symptoms associated with hypothyroidism (Sunanda Panda et al, Phytother Res., 2005)
- May help promote weight loss, fat burn and suppress appetite (Jeong-Yeh Yang et al, Obesity (Silver Spring)., 2008)
In some people, intake of Guggul supplements may cause certain side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, stomach upset, headaches, and skin rashes.
Guggul supplements contain many active ingredients including Myrcene, Linalool, D-limonene, Eugenol and Geraniol at different concentration levels. The molecular pathways which are regulated by Guggul include MYC Signaling and Oxidative Stress. 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 Guggul individually or in combination is an important decision to be made. When making decisions on the use of supplement Guggul over other nutritional supplements – do consider all these factors.
Who Should not take Guggul Supplements and Why?
There is no easy way to answer the question “For which cancers should I not choose Guggul nutritional supplements”. Just like the same chemotherapy treatment does not work across patients, for similar reasons Guggul 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 Guggul should be avoided or not and why.
1. Will Guggul Supplements benefit Primary Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia patients undergoing Cyclophosphamide treatment?
Primary Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia is characterized and driven by specific genetic mutations like BCR-ABL1, RUNX1 and ASXL1 leading to biochemical pathway changes in Oxidative Stress, Growth Factor Signaling, NFKB Signaling, RUNX Signaling, Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics and Suppressive Histone Methylation. A cancer treatment like Cyclophosphamide 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, Guggul supplement should not be taken for Primary Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia along with treatment Cyclophosphamide. Guggul supplement impacts the biochemical pathway called Oxidative Stress 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), age, gender, BMI, lifestyle and any genetic mutation information (if available).
2. Will Guggul Supplements benefit Primary Uterine Malignant Mixed Mullerian Tumor Patients undergoing Cetuximab Treatment?
Primary Uterine Malignant Mixed Mullerian Tumor is characterized and driven by specific genetic mutations like TP53, PIK3CA and KRAS leading to biochemical pathway changes in MYC Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints, Apoptosis, Angiogenesis, Hematopoiesis, G-protein-coupled Receptor Signaling and Growth Factor Signaling. A cancer treatment like Cetuximab 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, Guggul supplements should be considered for Primary Uterine Malignant Mixed Mullerian Tumor along with the treatment Cetuximab. Guggul supplement impacts pathways/processes like MYC Signaling which either obstruct drivers of Primary Uterine Malignant Mixed Mullerian Tumor and/or improve Cetuximab treatment effect.
Foods to Eat After Cancer Diagnosis!
No two cancers are the same. Go beyond the common nutrition guidelines for everyone and make personalized decisions about food and supplements with confidence.
3. What about Guggul Supplements for Healthy Individuals with NRAS Mutation associated Genetic Risk?
NRAS is one of the genes available in panels for cancer risk testing. NRAS mutation causes biochemical pathways/processes like MYC Signaling, MAPK Signaling and RAS-RAF Signaling to get impacted. These pathways are direct or indirect drivers of cancer molecular endpoints. Guggul supplements may be considered when the genetic panel identifies mutations in NRAS for Acute Lymphoid Leukemia. Guggul impacts pathways/processes like MYC Signaling and creates a canceling effect in those individuals with NRAS 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 Guggul 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:
- Protective Effect of D-Limonene against Oxidative Stress-Induced Cell Damage in Human Lens Epithelial Cells via the p38 Pathway.
- D-Limonene modulates inflammation, oxidative stress and Ras-ERK pathway to inhibit murine skin tumorigenesis.
- cBioPortal for Cancer Genomics
- Genomic analyses of gynaecologic carcinosarcomas reveal frequent mutations in chromatin remodelling genes.
- Cyclophosphamide-induced apoptosis in COV434 human granulosa cells involves oxidative stress and glutathione depletion.
- Comparison of groups when outcomes are on an ordered scale.
Personalized Nutrition for Cancer!
Cancer changes with time. Customize and modify your nutrition based on cancer indication, treatments, lifestyle, food preferences, allergies and other factors.