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. 2016 Feb:98:325-34.
doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2015.11.014. Epub 2015 Nov 23.

Natural products and complementary therapies for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: A systematic review

Cloé Brami  1 , Ting Bao  2 , Gary Deng  3
Affiliations

Natural products and complementary therapies for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: A systematic review

Cloé Brami et al. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2016 Feb.

Abstract

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a serious dose-limiting side-effect without any FDA-approved treatment option. Prior reviews focus mostly on pharmacological interventions, but nonpharmaceutical interventions have also been evaluated. A Web of Science and PubMed database search to identify relevant RCTs from January 2005 to May 2015 included the terms: CIPN, cancer; and supplements, vitamin E, goshajinkigan, kampo, acetyl-L-carnitine, carnitine, alpha-lipoic acid, omega-3, glutamine, or glutamate; or massage, acupuncture, mind-body practice, yoga, meditation, Tai-Chi, physical activity, or exercise. Of 1465 publications screened, 12 RCTs evaluated natural products and one evaluated electroacupuncture. Vitamin E may help prevent CIPN. L-Glutamine, goshajinkigan, and omega-3 are also promising. Acetyl-L-carnitine may worsen CIPN and alpha-lipoic acid activity is unknown. Electroacupuncture was not superior to placebo. No RCTs were published regarding other complementary therapies, although some studies mention positive incidental findings. Natural products and complementary therapies deserve further investigation, given the lack of effective CIPN interventions.

Keywords: Chemotherapy; Complementary therapies; Dietary supplements; Integrative medicine; Natural products; Peripheral neuropathy; Platinum drugs; Randomized controlled trials.

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Figure 1
Records indentified through Web of Science and PubMed Central database searches.
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