Supplementation • Glioma - Center Foundation
Most important at this stage:
01
avoiding supplementation “for a start”; all parameters determined in the serum (e.g. vitamin D, selenium) should be measured prior to possible supplementation
02
for the group of supplements whose levels are not determined (e.g. curcumin) relevant data should be obtained to guarantee responsible selection
03
attention should be paid to various functions of supplements; some are not necessarily associated with anti-cancerous activity but are nevertheless important as agents that play a significant role in the treatment (e.g. have an anti-oedematous effect)
As is well known, glioblastoma is an exceptionally difficult adversary. Therefore it is advisable to look for various means of combat and to strive at their synergy. Of course, what is significant are possible side effects as well as an analysis of expected advantages.
We have carried out a totally subjective analysis of most supplements recommended for glioblastoma patients. We were looking for information that might confirm the effectiveness of particular substances, and – in the case of their existence – we strived to find out whether they had been tested on animals or perhaps also on people, and in the latter case, whether the subjects were glioblastoma patients; whether side effects have been described; what exactly is their working mechanism. In this way we created a particular, subjective “ranking list” of supplements.
In view of the amount of this material we encourage people interested in getting answers to particular questions to contact us directly via the contact form.
At this point we would like to enumerate substances that “stood on the podium”: melatonin, curcumin and, ex aequo, silibinin, and EGCG. We should also like to mention berberine, Boswellia, quercetin, and apigenin. Supplements of particular value for brain tumor patients are vegetal cannabinoids, including CBD.
Supplements are not subject to strict procedures comparable to those used with registered drugs, and therefore their quality is of great importance. To enable well-grounded decision, it is advisable to check information on their manufacturer and the so-called bioavailability. Some companies support research and specialize in particular substances. For instance, Natural Factors has patented the so-called theracurmin, which, due to special technology, has the high solubility and bioavailability of curcumin. The Sunergetic company supported the development of technology implemented to produce supplements with high-quality berberine.