Evidence supporting the use of: Iron
For the health condition: Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Iron supplementation is used in the context of cancer treatment primarily to address or prevent cancer-related anemia, a common side effect of chemotherapy, radiation, or the cancer itself. Many cancer patients develop anemia due to decreased red blood cell production, blood loss, or effects of therapy on bone marrow. Scientific studies and clinical guidelines support the use of iron (oral or intravenous) when iron deficiency is documented, especially in combination with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). Supplementation can improve hemoglobin levels, reduce the need for blood transfusions, and improve quality of life for patients with cancer-related anemia.

However, the use of iron is not recommended for all cancer patients and should be guided by laboratory evidence of iron deficiency (e.g., low serum ferritin, low transferrin saturation). There is concern that excess iron might promote tumor growth or infection, so its use is carefully monitored. Major oncology societies, including ASCO and ESMO, provide guidance on iron use in this context. Overall, while iron is not a direct cancer treatment, there is moderate scientific evidence supporting its use for reducing the side effects of cancer therapy in iron-deficient patients. The rating of 3 reflects that while evidence is solid for treating anemia, it is not universally applicable to all patients, and iron does not treat cancer itself.

More about iron
More about Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)

Other ingredients used for Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)

3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoic acid
5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine
Acemannan
Acetyl L-carnitine
Agarikon Mushroom
AHCC
Akkermansia muciniphila
Alantolactone
Algae
algal oil
Algal protein
Aloe vera
Alpha Glucans
alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG)
alpha-lipoic acid
amino acids
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
ampelopsin
anamu
Andrographis
andrographolide
Angelica
anthocyanidins
anti-aromatase
Antrodia camphorata
apigenin
arabinoxylan
Arisaema
Artepillin C
artesunate
ashitaba
ashwagandha
astaxanthin
aster root
astragaloside
astragalus
atractylodes
atractylone
Auricularia
baccosides
bacillus coagulans
bacillus subtilis
bacteria
bael
baicalein
baicalin
Baikal Skullcap
Baphicacanthus cusia
Basidiomycota
basil
BCAA
bee hive
bee products
bee propolis
Beef liver
beet
berberine
berry
beta caryophyllene
beta-glucan
beta-lapachone
betulinic acid
Bidens pilosa
Bifidobacteria
Bifidobacterium
Bifidobacterium adolescentis
Bifidobacterium animalis
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium breve
Bifidobacterium lactis
Bifidobacterium longum
biota seed
black cumin
black nightshade
black seed
blackberry
blueberry
Boerhavia diffusa
borneol
Boswellia
Boswellic Acid
boxthorne
branched-chain amino acids
Brassica
broccoli
bromelain
buckthorn
bupleurum falcatum
burdock
butein
butyrate triglyceride
C-phycocyanin
caffeic Acid
Calendula
Camellia sinensis
cancerina
cannabidiol
cannabigerol
Cannabis sativa oil
capillary artemisia
capsaicinoids
carnosic acid
carnosol
caryophyllene
cat's claw
catalase
caterpillar mushroom
Celosia
Centella asiatica
chaga mushroom
chamomile
Chinese fleeceflower
Chinese mountain ant
Chinese pond turtle
Chinese salvia root
chirata
chlorella
chlorophyll
chlorophyllin
chokeberry
chrysanthemum
cistanche
Citrus
citrus pectin
Clostridium butyricum
cocoa
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
coix
colostrum
condurango
cordyceps
corilagin
coriolus mushroom
costus
Crinum latifolium
crocetin
Curcuma
curcumen
curcumin
Curcuminoid
cuspidatum root
cyclodextrin
cytokines
d-alpha tocopherol
d-glucarate
daidzein
date
decursin
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
diallyl disulfide (DADS)
diallyl sulfide
diallyl trisulfide (DATS)
didymin
DIM (diindolylmethane)
dioscorea
diosgenin
diosmetin
dithiolthiones
DNA
docosahexaenoic Acid
dodder
dong quai root
DPA (docosapentaenoic acid)
Eclipta
eicosapentaenoic acid
eleuthero
enokitake
enzymes blend (proprietary)
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
essential oil blend
Eupolyphaga sinensis
evodiamine
fatty acids
ferulic acid
fiber
fiber blend (proprietary)
fibroblast growth factor
fisetin
fish oil
Flammulina velutipes
flat-stem milk-vetch
flavonoids
flavonolignan
flavonols
flavonones
flaxseed
folate
folic acid
folinic acid
Fomitopsis pinicola
fruit
fucoidan
fucosterol
fucoxanthin
fungus
gallic acid
ganoderma
garlic
garlic bulb
genistein
ginger
ginkgetin
ginseng
Ginsenosides
Glucan peptides
Glucoraphanin
Glucosinolates
Glutamine
Glutathione
goji berry
green tea
gum
Gypenoside
Haematococcus pluvialis
Hedyotis
Hematoporphyrin
hemp
hemp oil
Herb Robert
herbal blend (proprietary)
hericium mushroom
hesperetin
hesperidin
HMB hydroxymethylbutyrate
HMR lignan
honey
Honokiol
Huang hua
hydroxymethylbutyrate
hydroxytyrosol
Hyphomycetes
hypsizygus marmoreus
Indian frankincense
Indian sarsparilla
Indian tinospora
indole-3-carbinol
iron
Isatis
Isoalantolactone
isodon excisus
isodon rubescens
isoflavones
isoliquiritigenin
isosilybin
isovitexin
Java brucea
jiaogulan
Job\'s tears
jujube
Kaempferol
kale
Kefir
Kefiran
knotweed
Kokilaksha
l-carnitine
L-cysteine
L-glutamine
L-glutathione
L. lactis
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus casei
Lactobacillus fermentum
Lactobacillus gasseri
Lactobacillus johnsonii
Lactobacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus reuteri
Lactobacillus salivarius
Lactococcus casei
Lactococcus rhamnosus
Lactoferrin
lemongrass
Lentinan
Lentinula edodes mycelia
Ligustrazin
Ligustrum
limonene
lingzhi
lion's mane
lipids
Loranthus
Lycium
lycopene
Maclura tricuspidata
magnesium
magnolol
maitake mushroom
mallow
mangosteen
mangostene xanthone
mangostin
marigold
Marine lipid
Marine protein
Maslinic acid
Mayapple
medium chain triglycerides (MCT)
Melatonin
Mesima
Methylselenocysteine
Milk
Milk Protein
Milk thistle
Mineral ascorbate
Mistletoe
mixed carotenoids
Momordica
Mondo grass
Monoterpenes
Morinda
Moringa
Mushroom
Myrrh
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
Neem tree
Nettle
Niacinamide (vitamin B3)
Nigella seed
Nobiletin
noni
nopal
Oldenlandia diffusa
oleanolic acid
Oligosaccharides
omega-3 fatty acids
Ophiopogon
ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate
Oroxylum indicum
Osthole
Oxymatrine
oyster mushroom
paeoniflorin
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)
papaya
Paris polyphylla
parthenolide
Patrinia
pau d'arco
paw paw
Pentacyclic triterpenoids
peony
Pepper
Peptides
perilla
Periwinkle
Petiveria
phenolic compounds
Phenylpropanoids
phlorotannins
phospholipids
Phycocyanin
Phyllanthus
Physalis angulata
phytocannabinoids
Phytoestrogens
phytosterols
Piperine
Plantago
Pleurotus eryngii
plum fruit
Podophyllum
pollen
Polygonatum
polyphenols
polyporous mushroom
Polyporus
polysaccharides
pomegranate
prebiotic blend (proprietary)
probiotics
Propionibacterium freudenreichii
Propolis
protease
protein
proteolytic enzymes
Puerarin
pumpkin
purslane
raspberry
reishi mushroom
resveratrol
Rhabdosia rubescens
rhizome
rosemary
royal jelly
Rubia cordifolia
rutin
S-allylcysteine
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Salidroside
Salmon Oil
Salvianolic acid
saponins
sarsaparilla
Schisandrins
Schizophyllum commune
scrophularia root
seaweed
selenium
Selenomethionine
Semecarpus anacardium
sesame
Sesamin
Sete sangrias
shiitake mushroom
Shikonin
Shilajit
Shogaol
Sichuan Lovage
siler root
Silybin
smilax
Sophora
soursop
Southern Tsangshu
Soy
soy isoflavones
Soy Protein
specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)
Sphaeranthus indicus
spirulina
Sulfated polysaccharide
Sulforaphane
sulforaphane glucosinolate
suma
Syringic acid
Szechuan lovage
Tanshinone
Tea
Terpenoids
Thistle
Thuja
Thymoquinone
Tinospora cordifolia
tocotrienols
Trametes
Tremella
tributyrin
Trichosanthes
Triphala
Triterpenes
Tumerone
Turkey tail mushroom
turmeric
Turmerones
typhonium
Typhonium flagelliforme
ubiquinol
Uncaria
Urolithin A
Ursolic Acid
vegetable and fruit blend (proprietary)
Vine tea
Viscum coloratum
vitamin A
vitamin B
vitamin B12
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin D3
vitamin E
Vitexin
Wax Gourd
wheat grass
Whey protein
Withanolides
Wogonin
Wulinshen
Xanthohumol
Xanthone
Xanthoparmelia
Xanthophyll
Xanthorrhizol
Xylaria nigripes
Yacon
Yellow root
Yew
Yumberry
Zedoary
Zinc
Zingerone
Zingiberene
Zucchini

Products containing iron

Vitabase Active Man's Formula
Vitabase Active Woman's Multi
Douglas Laboratories Amino-Iron ™
Metagenics Axis Endo™ Mango
Thorne Basic Prenatal Multivitamin
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus Berry
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus pH
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus pH Pineapple Banana
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus Pineapple Banana
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus Vanilla
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear RENEW Berry
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear RENEW Chai
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear RENEW Vanilla
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus Berry
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus pH Pineapple Banana
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus pH Vanilla
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus Pineapple Banana
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus Vanilla
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear RENEW Berry
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear RENEW Chai
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear RENEW Vanilla
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Metagenics Fem Prenatal®
Thorne Ferrasorb
Designs For Health Ferrochel® Iron Chelate
Metagenics GI Sustain™ Powder
Douglas Laboratories Hair, Skin and Nails Plus
Metagenics Hemagenics
Metagenics Hemagenics
Thorne Iron Bisglycinate NSF
Pure Encapsulations Iron-C
Integrative Therapeutics Iron Complex
Integrative Therapeutics K-PAX MitoNutrients
Metagenics Ketogenic Shake Chocolate
Metagenics Ketogenic Shake Vanilla
Klean Athlete Klean Isolate™ Natural Chocolate Flavor
Klean Athlete Klean Recovery ™
Pure Encapsulations Liquid Iron
Integrative Therapeutics Liquid Iron
Thorne MediClear Plus
Metagenics MetaKids Nutrition Powder Chocolate
Metagenics MetaKids Nutrition Powder Vanilla
Pure Encapsulations Mineral 650
Metagenics Multigenics®
Metagenics Multigenics Chewable Orange
Metagenics Multigenics Intensive Care
Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950®
Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950®
Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950®
Pure Encapsulations OptiFerin-C
Designs For Health Organ Synergy™ 180 Capsules
Designs For Health Organ Synergy™ Powder
Designs For Health PaleoCleanse Plus™
Designs For Health PaleoCleanse Plus™ Detox Program
Designs For Health PaleoCleanse Plus™Chocolate Detox Kit
Designs For Health PaleoGreens®
Designs For Health PaleoGreens®
Designs For Health PaleoMeal®
Metagenics Perfect Protein® Pea & Rice Chocolate Powder
Metagenics Perfect Protein Pea & Rice Vanilla Powder
Metagenics Perfect Protein Whey Chocolate
Integrative Therapeutics Physicians Elemental Diet Dextrose Free
Integrative Therapeutics Physician's Elemental Diet
Integrative Therapeutics Physician's Elemental Diet
Integrative Therapeutics Physicians Elemental Diet Kit
Metagenics PhytoGanix® Tropical Fruit
Metagenics PhytoMulti With Iron
Designs For Health Phytotein™
Designs For Health Plant Protein Cleanse
Designs For Health Plant Protein Cleanse Plus™ 570g
Designs For Health Plant Protein Meal
Designs For Health Plant Protein Meal Plus
Designs For Health Plant Protein Meal
Metagenics PlusOne® Daily Prenatal Packs
Douglas Laboratories Prenatal
Pure Encapsulations PreNatal Nutrients
Pure Encapsulations PreNatal Nutrients
Designs For Health Prenatal Pro™
Pure Encapsulations PureLean® Protein
Pure Encapsulations PurePals with Iron
Designs For Health PurePea™
Douglas Laboratories Timed Release Iron
Metagenics Ultra Calm® Bar Chocolate Coconut
Metagenics Ultra Energy Bar Caramel Sea Salt
Metagenics Ultra Glucose Control® Chocolate
Metagenics Ultra Glucose Control Chocolate
Metagenics Ultra Glucose Control Vanilla
Metagenics Ultra Glucose Control Vanilla
Metagenics Ultra Protein Bar Peanut Butter
Metagenics UltraClear Detox Powder
Metagenics UltraClear Plus® Detox Powder
Metagenics UltraClear Plus Detox Powder Berry
Metagenics UltraClear Plus Detox Powder Pineapple/Banana
Metagenics UltraClear Plus pH Detox Powder Pineapple/Banana
Metagenics UltraClear Plus pH Detox Powder Vanilla
Metagenics UltraClear RENEW Detox Powder Berry
Metagenics UltraClear RENEW Detox Powder Chai
Metagenics UltraClear RENEW Detox Powder Vanilla
Metagenics UltraGI Replenish® Chocolate
Metagenics UltraGI Replenish Chocolate
Metagenics UltraGI Replenish Vanilla
Metagenics UltraGI Replenish Vanilla
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360°® Chocolate/Orange
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360° Mango
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360° Mango
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360° Orange
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360° Original Spice
Metagenics UltraInflamX Plus 360° Pineapple/Banana
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Metagenics UltraMeal Advanced Protein® Dutch Chocolate
Metagenics UltraMeal Advanced Protein French Vanilla
Metagenics UltraMeal Advanced Protein Plain
Metagenics UltraMeal Cardio 360°® Pea/Rice Chocolate
Metagenics UltraMeal Cardio 360° Pea/Rice Vanilla
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Metagenics UltraMeal Daily Support Mixed Berry
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