Tamoxifen and Q10 May 2007

FHN Complementary Medicine Monthly Newsletter May 2007

www.mrdrpilot.blogspot.com

Tamoxifen and CoQ10

An interesting study was just done in India on Lipids in post-menopausal women breast cancer patients taking tamoxifen. Tamoxifen therapy seems to induce higher lipid levels in patients. Therefore enzyme CoQ10, riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), were given to these patients for 90 days to see how they responded.

The study involved 78 women with breast cancer (these are women who have already gone through primary cancer therapy) in 3 groups. Those who were untreated, those who were treated with Tamoxifen alone (10 mg/twice a day), and those who were treated with Tamoxifen (10 mg/twice a day) plus coenzyme Q10 (100 mg), riboflavin (10 mg) and niacin (50 mg), and 46 age- and sex- matched controls without breast cancer. (The dosage of niacin is certainly low enough as to not cause any liver concerns.)

Results found that compared to control subjects without breast cancer, all lipid and lipoprotein levels were significantly altered in untreated breast cancer patients. Compared to untreated breast cancer patients, levels of serum triglycerides and very-low-density cholesterol were significantly elevated and levels of HDL cholesterol were significantly reduced among patients with breast cancer treated with Tamoxifen alone. After 90 days of treatment with coenzyme Q10, riboflavin, and niacin, "all the lipid and lipoprotein abnormalities were reverted back to near normal levels!”

Certainly this is a small study, but with the low doses used it would certainly warrant the use of these nutrients with Tamoxifen therapy.

Sincerely

Drs. Glenn and Julie Smith