For Which Cancers Should I Avoid Nutmeg Supplement?

Highlights

Nutritional supplements and extracts like Nutmeg 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 Nutmeg supplement and why should not take them?

Is it okay to take Nutmeg 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 Nutmeg extracts or nutritional supplements may benefit Primary Cervical Neuroendocrine Tumor patients on Cisplatin treatment over Cats Claw nutritional supplements. But Nutmeg supplements or Nutmeg extracts offer less benefit if on Radiation treatment for Primary Inflammatory Breast Cancer compared to Kaempferol. Similarly, taking nutritional supplements Nutmeg may benefit healthy individuals who are at genetic risk of cancer due to mutation of gene ERBB2 over Yarrow Achillea. But avoid nutritional supplements Nutmeg when at genetic risk of cancer due to mutation of gene CDKN2A.

The takeaway being – cancer, genomics, treatments and other personalized factors will influence decision making to questions like: Are extracts or nutritional supplements Nutmeg beneficial and should not be taken? Why should Nutmeg be not taken? Who should not take Nutmeg? What are side effects of Nutmeg with Radiation chemotherapy? What are the benefits of Nutmeg for cancer? Can Nutmeg 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 Nutmeg? Should you take it when at genetic risk of cancer for mutation of gene ERBB2? Should you take it when at genetic risk of cancer for mutation of gene CDKN2A? Should you take it when diagnosed with Primary Inflammatory Breast Cancer? Should you take it when diagnosed with Primary Cervical Neuroendocrine Tumor? Should you take it when on Cisplatin treatment? Should you continue taking it if you change your treatment from Cisplatin 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 Nutmeg 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 Cervical Neuroendocrine Tumor or Primary Inflammatory Breast Cancer, 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 Nutmeg.

So the question is that are all genetic risks and cancer indications to be considered uniformly when making decisions on the use of Nutmeg extracts or nutritional supplements? Are the biochemical pathway implications of genetic risk for cancer due to mutation of gene ERBB2 the same as due to mutation of gene CDKN2A? Are the implications of Primary Cervical Neuroendocrine Tumor the same as Primary Inflammatory Breast Cancer? Is it one and the same if you are on treatment with Radiation or Cisplatin?

Nutmeg – An Extract or Nutritional Supplement

Nutmeg supplements contain many active ingredients including Myrcene, Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Palmitic Acid and D-limonene at different concentration levels. The molecular pathways which are regulated by Nutmeg include MYC Signaling, Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition, DNA Repair and RAS-RAF Signaling. 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 Nutmeg individually or in combination is an important decision to be made. When making decisions on the use of supplement Nutmeg over other nutritional supplements – do consider all these factors.

Who Should not take Nutmeg Supplements and Why?

There is no easy way to answer the question “For which cancers should I not chooseNutmeg nutritional supplements”. Just like the same chemotherapy treatment does not work across patients, for similar reasons Nutmeg 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 Nutmeg should be avoided or not and why.

1. Will Nutmeg Supplements benefit Primary Inflammatory Breast Cancer patients undergoing Radiation treatment?

Primary Inflammatory Breast Cancer is characterized and driven by specific genetic mutations like CDH1, ERBB2 and RHOA leading to biochemical pathway changes in Adherens junction, Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition, Growth Factor Signaling, MAPK Signaling and Cytoskeletal Dynamics. 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, Nutmeg supplement should not be taken for Primary Inflammatory Breast Cancer along with treatment Radiation. Nutmeg supplement impacts the biochemical pathway called Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition 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 Nutmeg Supplements benefit Primary Cervical Neuroendocrine Tumor Patients undergoing Cisplatin Treatment?

Primary Cervical Neuroendocrine Tumor is characterized and driven by specific genetic mutations like ABHD6, STOX1 and PDZD4 leading to biochemical pathway changes in MYC Signaling. A cancer treatment like Cisplatin 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, Nutmeg supplements should be considered for Primary Cervical Neuroendocrine Tumor along with the treatment Cisplatin. Nutmeg supplement impacts pathways/processes like MYC Signaling which either obstruct drivers of Primary Cervical Neuroendocrine Tumor and/or improve Cisplatin treatment effect.

3. What about Nutmeg Supplements for Healthy Individuals with CDKN2A 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. CDKN2A is one of the genes generally available in panels for cancer risk testing.

CDKN2A mutation causes biochemical pathways/processes like DNA Repair, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and Cell Cycle to get impacted. These pathways are direct or indirect drivers of cancer molecular endpoints. Nutmeg should not be taken when the genetic panel identifies mutation of CDKN2A for Skin Cancer. Nutmeg impacts pathways/processes like DNA Repair and creates adverse conditions with CDKN2A.

4. What about Nutmeg Supplements for Healthy Individuals with ERBB2 Mutation associated Genetic Risk?

ERBB2 is one of the genes available in panels for cancer risk testing. ERBB2 mutation causes biochemical pathways/processes like RAS-RAF Signaling, Growth Factor Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling to get impacted. These pathways are direct or indirect drivers of cancer molecular endpoints. Nutmeg supplements may be considered when the genetic panel identifies mutations in ERBB2 for Esophageal Adenocarcinoma. Nutmeg impacts pathways/processes like RAS-RAF Signaling and creates a canceling effect in those individuals with ERBB2 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 Nutmeg 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
• Genetic Determinants of Cisplatin Resistance in Patients With Advanced Germ Cell Tumors.
• HER kinase inhibition in patients with HER2- and HER3-mutant cancers.
• Inhibition of farnesyl protein transferase and P21ras memebrane association by d-limonene in human pancreas tumor cells in vitro.
• Role of phospholipase D in migration and invasion induced by linoleic acid in breast cancer cells.
• D-Limonene modulates inflammation, oxidative stress and Ras-ERK pathway to inhibit murine skin tumorigenesis.
• cBioPortal for Cancer Genomics
• Radio resistance in breast cancer cells is mediated through TGF-β signalling, hybrid epithelial-mesenchymal phenotype and cancer stem cells.
• Integrative clinical genomics of metastatic cancer.