Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin B12 (various)
For the health condition: Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3
Vitamin B12 is sometimes used alongside cancer treatment, primarily to address or prevent side effects such as anemia and peripheral neuropathy that may result from chemotherapy or radiation. The scientific rationale is based on the well-established role of vitamin B12 in red blood cell formation and nervous system health. Chemotherapy agents, such as platinum-based compounds and certain antimetabolites, can impair blood cell production or cause nerve damage, and patients with underlying or treatment-induced B12 deficiency are at greater risk for these complications.
There is moderate scientific evidence supporting vitamin B12 supplementation for correcting deficiency and thus reducing the incidence or severity of treatment-related anemia and neuropathy. For example, studies have shown that supplementation of B12, sometimes in combination with folate, can reduce the risk of hematologic toxicity in patients receiving pemetrexed-based chemotherapy for lung cancer. However, there is limited evidence that B12 supplementation benefits cancer patients who are not deficient in the vitamin, and there is no evidence that B12 directly treats cancer or reduces the primary side effects of cancer therapy in the absence of deficiency.
Clinical guidelines recommend monitoring and correcting B12 deficiency in cancer patients, especially those with symptoms of anemia or neuropathy. Routine supplementation without evidence of deficiency is not advised. Thus, while B12 is not a cancer treatment, its use to reduce certain side effects in deficient patients is scientifically validated.
More about Vitamin B12 (various)
More about Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Other ingredients used for Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
acetyl l-carnitineakkermansia muciniphila
algal oil
aloe vera
alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG)
amino acids
ashwagandha
astaxanthin
astragalus
bacillus coagulans
bacillus subtilis
basil
beet
berberine
berry flavor
beta caryophyllene
Beta-Glucan
bifidobacterium bifidum
bifidobacterium breve
bifidobacterium lactis
bifidobacterium longum
black cumin
sesame
blackberry
blueberry
Indian frankincense
branched-chain amino acids
broccoli
bromelain
bupleurum falcatum
burdock
butyrate triglyceride
cannabis sativa oil
capsaicinoids
cat's claw
catalase
caterpillar mushroom
chaga mushroom
chamomile
Chinese salvia root
chlorella
chlorophyll
chokeberry
citrus oil
citrus pectin
coating
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
colostrum
cordyceps
turmeric
curcumin
cuspidatum root
cyclodextrin
d-alpha tocopherol
d-glucarate
DHA (docosahexaeonic acid)
diallyl disulfide (DADS)
diallyl trisulfide (DATS)
DIM (diindolylmethane)
dong quai root
DPA (docosapentaenoic acid)
eleuthero
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
fiber blend (proprietary)
fisetin
fish oil
flavonols
flaxseed
folate
garlic bulb
genistein
ginger
ginseng
green tea
hemp oil
hesperetin
hesperidin
HMR lignan
Indian tinospora
indole-3-carbinol
iron
knotweed
jujube
kale
l-carnitine
l-cysteine
l-glutamine
l-glutathione
lactobacillus acidophilus
lactobacillus brevis
lactobacillus casei
lactobacillus fermentum
lactobacillus gasseri
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
lactobacillus reuteri
lactobacillus salivarius
lactoferrin
lentinula edodes mycelia
lion's mane
lycopene
magnesium
maitake mushroom
mangosteen
marine lipid
medium chain triglycerides (MCT)
melatonin
milk
milk thistle
mixed carotenoids
moringa
n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
nettle
niacinamide (vitamin B3)
oleanolic acid
omega-3 fatty acids
ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate
oyster mushroom
pectin
perilla
phenolic acids
phospholipids
phytocannabinoids
phytosterols
plum fruit
pollen
pomegranate
prebiotic blend (proprietary)
protease
protein
pumpkin
raspberry
reishi mushroom
resveratrol
rhizome
rosemary
rutin
scrophularia root
selenium
shiitake mushroom
specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)
sphaeranthus indicus
spirulina
sulforaphane glucosinolate
tocotrienols
tributyrin
triphala
turkey tail mushroom
ubiquinol
Urolithin A
vegetable and fruit blend (proprietary)
vitamin A
vitamin B
vitamin B12
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin D3
vitamin E
seaweed
water
wheat grass
whey protein
zinc
sarsaparilla
yellow root
suma
jiaogulan
typhonium
atractylodes
papaya
neem tree
smilax
tinospora cordifolia
rubia cordifolia
peony
lingzhi
lingusticum wallichii
boxthorne
buckthorn
pau d'arco
lemongrass
myrrh
ferulic acid
chrysanthemum
siler root
cistanche
dioscorea
dodder
ganoderma
morinda
trichosanthes
royal jelly
polyphenols
purslane
coix
polyporus
aster root
noni
biota seed
nopal
goji berry
paw paw
herbal blend (proprietary)
algae
cocoa
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
enzymes blend (proprietary)
soy isoflavones
ashitaba
soursop
3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoic acid
4-Hydroxyandrostenedione
5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine
Agarikon Mushroom
Alpha Glucans
Angelica
Apigenin
Antrodia camphorata
Auricularia
Anamu
Artesunate
AHCC
Andrographolide
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Astragaloside
anthocyanidins
Andrographis
Ampelopsin
Acemannan
Algal protein
Arabinoxylan
Arisaema
Alantolactone
Anti-aromatase
Artepillin C
Atractylone
Bee Propolis
Black Seed
Bifidobacterium
Baikal Skullcap
Bifidobacterium adolescentis
Baphicacanthus cusia
Bidens pilosa
Betulinic acid
Brassica
Boswellic Acid
Beef liver
Baccosides
Baicalein
Beta-lapachone
Bee hive
Bael
Basidiomycota
berry
Boswellia
Butein
Bifidobacterium animalis
Bee products
Black Nightshade
Bacteria
Bifidobacteria
BCAA
Baicalin
Boerhavia diffusa
Borneol
Caffeic Acid
Camellia sinensis
Caryophyllene
Calendula
Chinese Mountain Ant
Condurango
Chlorophyllin
Coriolus mushroom
Capillary Artemisia
Chinese Fleeceflower
Curcuminoid
Citrus
Chinese Pond Turtle
Cancerina
Curcumen
Centella asiatica
Curcuma
Carnosol
C-Phycocyanin
Chirata
Crinum latifolium
Cannabidiol
Clostridium butyricum
Corilagin
Crocetin
Cytokines
Costus
Celosia
Carnosic acid
Cannabigerol
Docosahexaenoic Acid
Diallyl sulfide
DNA
Decursin
Daidzein
Diosgenin
Didymin
Date
Dithiolthiones
Diosmetin
Eupolyphaga sinensis
Eclipta
Eicosapentaenoic Acid
Essential Oil Blend
Enokitake
Folic Acid
Fiber
Flavonoids
Flavonones
Flammulina velutipes
fibroblast growth factor
Garlic
Isoflavones
Mallow
Milk Protein
Mistletoe
Periwinkle
Soy Protein
Zucchini
Other health conditions supported by Vitamin B12 (various)
Acquired Immune Deficiency SyndromeAlzheimer's Disease
Anemia
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Dementia
Depression
Diabetes
Fatigue
Infertility
Memory and Brain Function
Multiple Sclerosis
Nerve Damage
Pernicious Anemia
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Wasting