Evidence supporting the use of: Ergothioneine
For the health condition: Chemotherapy (reducing side effects)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2
Ergothioneine is a naturally occurring antioxidant amino acid found in mushrooms and some other foods. Its potential role in reducing the side effects of chemotherapy is an area of emerging scientific interest, but clinical evidence in humans remains limited. Preclinical studies (cell and animal models) have shown that ergothioneine can protect cells from oxidative stress and reduce cellular damage caused by chemotherapeutic agents such as doxorubicin and cisplatin. These findings suggest a potential for ergothioneine to mitigate some chemotherapy-induced toxicities, particularly those related to oxidative damage (e.g., cardiotoxicity, nephrotoxicity).
However, the available evidence is largely restricted to laboratory studies. Human clinical trials specifically testing the effects of ergothioneine supplementation in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy are lacking as of mid-2024. Some research highlights ergothioneine’s ability to accumulate in tissues exposed to high oxidative stress, further supporting its theoretical utility in this context. Additionally, a few review articles have proposed ergothioneine as a candidate for adjunct therapy during chemotherapy based on its antioxidant and cytoprotective properties, but they emphasize the need for robust clinical trials.
In summary, while there is preliminary scientific rationale and experimental data supporting ergothioneine’s potential to reduce chemotherapy side effects, direct clinical validation is currently insufficient. Thus, its use for this purpose is not yet evidence-based in clinical practice.
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