Highlights
Nutritional supplements and extracts like Ashitaba 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 Ashitaba supplement and why should not take them?
Is it okay to take Ashitaba 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 Ashitaba extracts or nutritional supplements may benefit Primary Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma patients on Cisplatin treatment over Rosmarinic Acid nutritional supplements. But Ashitaba supplements or Ashitaba extracts offer less benefit if on Everolimus treatment for Primary Atypical Lung Carcinoid compared to Ashwagandha. Similarly, taking nutritional supplements Ashitaba may benefit healthy individuals who are at genetic risk of cancer due to mutation of gene ALK over Ginseng. But avoid nutritional supplements Ashitaba when at genetic risk of cancer due to mutation of gene VHL.
The takeaway being – cancer, genomics, treatments and other personalized factors will influence decision making to questions like: Are extracts or nutritional supplements Ashitaba beneficial over {suppm_name2} and should not be taken? Why should Ashitaba be not taken? Who should not take Ashitaba? What are side effects of Ashitaba with Everolimus chemotherapy? What are the benefits of Ashitaba for cancer? Can Ashitaba 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 Ashitaba? Should you take it when at genetic risk of cancer for mutation of gene ALK? Should you take it when at genetic risk of cancer for mutation of gene VHL? Should you take it when diagnosed with Primary Atypical Lung Carcinoid? Should you take it when diagnosed with Primary Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma? Should you take it when on Cisplatin treatment? Should you continue taking it if you change your treatment from Cisplatin to Everolimus? 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 Ashitaba 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 Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma or Primary Atypical Lung Carcinoid, 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 Ashitaba.
So the question is that are all genetic risks and cancer indications to be considered uniformly when making decisions on the use of Ashitaba extracts or nutritional supplements? Are the biochemical pathway implications of genetic risk for cancer due to mutation of gene ALK the same as due to mutation of gene VHL? Are the implications of Primary Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma the same as Primary Atypical Lung Carcinoid? Is it one and the same if you are on treatment with Everolimus or Cisplatin?
Ashitaba – An Extract or Nutritional Supplement
Ashitaba, also known as Angelica keiskei, is a herb that mostly grows in Japan. Ashitaba is considered to have antidiabetic, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, and antimicrobial properties. (Lindsay K Caesar et al, Planta Med., 2016) Their roots, leaves, and stems are consumed for their medicinal properties. Following are some of the purported uses/benefits of Ashitaba:
- May help reduce heartburn
- May help reduce blood pressure
- May help reduce constipation
Ashitaba supplements contain many active ingredients including Isobavachalcone at different concentration levels. The molecular pathways which are regulated by Ashitaba include Oxidative Stress, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and MAPK 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 Ashitaba individually or in combination is an important decision to be made. When making decisions on the use of supplement Ashitaba over other nutritional supplements – do consider all these factors.
Who Should not take Ashitaba Supplements and Why?
There is no easy way to answer the question “For which cancers should I not chooseAshitaba nutritional supplements”. Just like the same chemotherapy treatment does not work across patients, for similar reasons Ashitaba 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 Ashitaba should be avoided or not and why.
1. Will Ashitaba Supplements benefit Primary Atypical Lung Carcinoid patients undergoing Everolimus treatment?
Primary Atypical Lung Carcinoid is characterized and driven by specific genetic mutations like DNMT3A, TET2 and PPM1D leading to biochemical pathway changes in PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics and DNA Repair. A cancer treatment like Everolimus 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, Ashitaba supplement should not be taken for Primary Atypical Lung Carcinoid along with treatment Everolimus. Ashitaba supplement impacts the biochemical pathway called PI3K-AKT-MTOR 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 Ashitaba Supplements benefit Primary Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients undergoing Cisplatin Treatment?
Primary Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma is characterized and driven by specific genetic mutations like ABRAXAS1, PIK3CB and NUP93 leading to biochemical pathway changes in Oxidative Stress, Hematopoiesis and Inositol Phosphate 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, Ashitaba supplements should be considered for Primary Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma along with the treatment Cisplatin. Ashitaba supplement impacts pathways/processes like Oxidative Stress which either obstruct drivers of Primary Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma and/or improve Cisplatin 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 Ashitaba Supplements for Healthy Individuals with VHL 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. VHL is one of the genes generally available in panels for cancer risk testing.
VHL mutation causes biochemical pathways/processes like Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Hypoxia to get impacted. These pathways are direct or indirect drivers of cancer molecular endpoints. Ashitaba should not be taken when the genetic panel identifies mutation of VHL for Kidney Cancer. Ashitaba impacts pathways/processes like Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and creates adverse conditions with VHL.
4. What about Ashitaba Supplements for Healthy Individuals with ALK Mutation associated Genetic Risk?
ALK is one of the genes available in panels for cancer risk testing. ALK mutation causes biochemical pathways/processes like MAPK Signaling and Growth Factor Signaling to get impacted. These pathways are direct or indirect drivers of cancer molecular endpoints. Ashitaba supplements may be considered when the genetic panel identifies mutations in ALK for Central Nervous System. Ashitaba impacts pathways/processes like MAPK Signaling and creates a canceling effect in those individuals with ALK 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 Ashitaba 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
- 4E-binding proteins, the suppressors of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E, are down-regulated in cells with acquired or intrinsic resistance to rapamycin.
- Isobavachalcone isolated from Psoralea corylifolia inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis via inhibiting the AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway in colorectal cancer cells.
- The subunits of glutamate cysteine ligase enhance cisplatin resistance in human non-small cell lung cancer xenografts in vivo.
- Abnormal response of adrenocorticotropin to corticotropin releasing factor in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
- Isobavachalcone exerts anti‑proliferative and pro‑apoptotic effects on human liver cancer cells by targeting the ERKs/RSK2 signaling pathway.
- cBioPortal for Cancer Genomics
- Cancer therapy shapes the fitness landscape of clonal hematopoiesis.
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.