Here’s what they answered. It seems a reasonable answer to me. Anything you think they have missed?
What are best supplements for castrate resistant prostate cancer?
Sources
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Answer
Based on the available research, there is no definitive "best" supplement for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). However, several natural compounds and dietary supplements have shown potential in preclinical studies, though their efficacy in clinical settings remains limited. Here's an overview of some promising options:
Potential Supplements for CRPC
Polyphenols and Flavonoids
Several plant-based compounds have demonstrated anti-cancer properties in laboratory studies:
Curcumin
Resveratrol
Quercetin
Apigenin
Fisetin
Luteolin
Kaempferol
These compounds have shown efficacy against various mechanisms leading to castration resistance in preclinical studies2. However, their effectiveness in clinical trials has been limited.
Other Natural Compounds
Genistein (soy isoflavone)
Berberine
Ursolic acid
Eugenol
Gingerol
Ellagic acid
These compounds have also demonstrated potential anti-cancer effects in laboratory studies2.
Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamin D
Some studies suggest vitamin D may have protective effects against prostate cancer, though results are mixed3.
Selenium
While once thought promising, recent studies have raised concerns about selenium supplementation potentially increasing prostate cancer risk in some men34.
Calcium
The relationship between calcium and prostate cancer is complex. Some studies suggest high calcium intake may increase risk of advanced prostate cancer, while others have shown potential protective effects34.
Considerations
Efficacy: Most supplements have shown promise in laboratory studies but have failed to demonstrate clear benefits in clinical trials for CRPC2.
Formulations: Nanoparticle formulations of some compounds (e.g., curcumin and quercetin) may increase their potential effectiveness in clinical settings2.
Safety: Some supplements, like selenium and vitamin E, have been associated with potential risks in certain populations34.
Interaction with conventional treatments: It's crucial to consult with healthcare providers before starting any supplement regimen, as some may interact with cancer treatments.
Individual variations: The effects of supplements can vary based on individual factors, cancer stage, and ongoing treatments.
While some dietary supplements show promise in laboratory studies, there is currently no strong clinical evidence supporting their use as a primary treatment for CRPC. Patients should focus on evidence-based treatments prescribed by their oncologists and discuss any interest in supplements with their healthcare team to ensure safety and potential efficacy.
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Graham49
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Thank you for this post. There are a broad range of opinions on this subject. My opinion is that if this disease is going to take me then I am going out having done everything possible (within reason) to help my cause including taking supplements in addition to standard medical care. I work with a naturopathic physician who is board certified in naturopathic oncology with the blessing of my radiation oncologist and regular oncologist. I am currently 16 months into a 2 year course of ADT after RALP and salvage radiation. I had osteopenia and some heart issues going in. Her approach includes the use of supplements, many on this list and some that are not including Turkey Tail and Modified Citris Pectin, however, she has equal focus on diet and lifestyle. She helps me with a variety of non-cancer challenges as well. Best wishes to all on this journey.
Thanks stealthrider… I agree completely, I’m going to do everything in my power to help myself get further down the road until hopefully there are more curative treatments available.
What does your naturopath recommend on diet/lifestyle?
I’d be interested to know what herb:supplements she recommends, if you don’t mind passing that on?
I went vegan on diagnosis, I’m intermittently fasting and have upped my exercise considerably, including more weights. I’m also meditating, and trying to make sure I have enough rest. This has all become a life mission.
I started on quite a few supplements, but have phased a few out and try to get as much through diet as possible. Try to include Berberine, Pomi T, Curcumin, Ginger root, Dandelion, root, flax seeds, Black seed oil, resveratrol, and a few others each day. V interested in mushrooms but haven’t worked out which yet… and whether the fruiting body or the mycelia is the most potent.
Broc, I have attached the notes from my October visit. Hopefully, her bullet points answer some of your questions. She stresses a few things in our conversations. 1) Get as many of your nutrients from food as possible and not supplements. 2) Cancer likes unregulated blood sugar (my A1C is creeping up), weak bones (especially prostate cancer, I have osteopenia), and low blood oxygen (I have sleep apnea). For cardio, I cycle in the summer and skate ski in the winter. I use bar bells, kettle bells, TRX, resistance bands and a range of calisthenics to try and maintain strength. I am not much good on meditating but I take a mean nap and love my hot tub. I take many more supplements than she lists. I will put in another post.
Broc, I have attached a list of the supplements I take. You can see I drink a bunch of teas as well. The ones with an "N" are the ones prescribed by the naturopath. the ones with an "L" were from a cardiologist. The rest are mine for various ailments. I am constantly questioning and adjusting this list, in some cases from inputs on other cancer forums. I put the mushroom mix in my coffee. Ones like Blueberry extract were on my list a long time before I was diagnosed and I'll probably stop them once they are gone. This is a lot of pills to manage, too many. I tried growing broccoli sprouts but I concluded I am not much of a microgreens farmer so I have them delivered to the house weekly. There were some very specific supplements she had me take for a short period after radiation as well which are not listed here. I know there are guys out there that will say all we are doing is making expensive urine, that's ok. As we mentioned before we are just trying to give ourselves the best chance we can.
This doctor has also helped me on other issues that come up. For example, she had me wear a continuous glucose monitor and track food intake which gave some very inrteresting insight to some of the foods I was eating and their impact on my blood sugar. I also just had a hip replaced and ended up anemic in part because my blood counts were whacked from radiation going in. She had me on some other supplements like iron to help resolve that which it did.
Thanks Stealth! Very good of you to post that stuff... and pretty reassuring that it seems to tie in with a lot of my thinking about how I handle the non-SOC piece of the picture. I should get a glucose monitor and keep a track on that.. I'm rigorous on the diet... but maybe a few things slip through that have an effect I don't realise. I feel like the more we dive in, the more our instincts start informing us too about what might be a good way forward. Exercise above all probably... I've been building up... your regime looks excellent. I'm trying to maximise weights (and kegels) as I see how quickly muscle can be lost... think I got in ahead of the curve, but have to keep it up relentlessly, without knackering myself out. Yes.. rest is very good... I manage to sleep by listening to audiobooks... which take my mind off bleak middle of night dark thoughts. I'm a big hot bath fan too.
Good luck to you my friend... onwards upwards... I'm sure we can beat this damn thing!
Happy to help, good luck on your journey. I was also taking 20mg of Melatonin every night but I started having premature atrial contractions. I stopped the melatonin and the PACs stopped as well. Tried again at 10mg and PACs came back.
spen, I am no expert and I only read the same papers as others but my understanding it that turkey tail acts as a general immune support and there is more invivo data supporting it than other potential plant derived compounds.
i came to the same conclusion and took turkey tail extracts when i did my first radiation. i should probably start again now that i am doing pluvicto. i used extracts from Oriveda, which i thought were the best i could find at the time. the stuff from Host Defense seemed to be bullshit. do you have a preferred brand that might be less expensive than Oriveda?
I don't know Oriveda but I get all my Mushroom products from Real Mushrooms. I am in the US. I was put on mushrooms about a month after radiation Oct last year and have been taking ever since. Best wishes to you.
will check it out completely and compare to oriveda so far looks good extracted third party verification and publication of active ingredients levels this is what oriveda did which at the time was rare i had not discovered real mushrooms. oriveda is maybe twice as expensive will compare levels and if cheaper and looking good will order for the humans and sogs in the family
oriveda and real mushroom seem very similar. oriveda used to have bulk power at a great savings but that seems to be gone and modern herb shop which is the only us retailer does not even have the caps in stock real mushroom is at less than half the cost and from the percentages of bets glucans shown is equal to oriveda. hopefully can find bulk powder. i can cap it myself
My MO recommends Lycopene. Sulforophane is another. Stay away from Vitamin E — be a label reader because many supplements contain Vitamin E as a preservative such as fish oil.
I also recommend lycopene along with heat and magnets, based on online readings and personal experience.. See my bio.
"Lycopene has been found to effectively suppress the progression and proliferation, arrest in-cell cycle, and induce apoptosis of prostate cancer cells in both in-vivo and in-vitro conditions."
"Black pepper contains piperine, which exhibits antitumor activity in several cancers. It may help reduce PCa proliferation and interfere with the cancer’s cell cycle. In one study of PCa patients with advanced disease, piperine seemed to amplify the effectiveness of the chemotherapy drug docetaxel."
Perhaps cycling the supplements would be advantageous. Most of the studies on supplements I have seen are in-vitro and document effect of various (particularly) plant derived compounds on one or more cancer cell lines at one moment in time. PCa is genetically diverse and can evolve resistance to most treatments. If a compound shows an anticancer effect it could be that if the cancer is exposed continuously, the cancer will have an opportunity to evolve resistance to a particular or even group of supplements. In the same way that a diverse diet like the Mediterranean might be effective in preventing some types of cancer from developing in the first place, a diverse combination of supplements having shown anticancer activity in the lab and then taken in varying combinations might be more effective than taken on a rote schedule. Just a thought!
Here’s a comprehensive list of herbs and natural compounds organized by strength of effectiveness against metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The list is based on preclinical and clinical research outcomes, where available, and includes findings on anti-cancer mechanisms, bioavailability, and other effects.
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1. Curcumin (Curcuma longa)
- Effectiveness: High
- Active Compounds: Curcuminoids, primarily curcumin.
- Mechanism & Impact: Curcumin is widely studied for prostate cancer, demonstrating inhibition of androgen receptor signaling, induction of apoptosis, and reduction of inflammation and tumor growth. Its effectiveness improves significantly with the addition of piperine (from black pepper) to enhance bioavailability.
- Clinical Studies: Clinical trials show reductions in PSA levels and slower disease progression in prostate cancer patients.
2. Sulforaphane (from Broccoli Sprouts)
- Effectiveness: High
- Active Compounds: Sulforaphane.
- Mechanism & Impact: Sulforaphane activates tumor-suppressing pathways, reduces cancer cell proliferation, and induces apoptosis. It inhibits histone deacetylase (HDAC), which can slow cancer progression and has demonstrated synergy with other cancer treatments.
- Clinical Studies: Some clinical trials indicate reduced PSA levels and benefits in slowing cancer progression.
3. Green Tea (Camellia sinensis)
- Effectiveness: High
- Active Compounds: Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).
- Mechanism & Impact: EGCG inhibits cell proliferation, induces apoptosis, and has antioxidant properties that are beneficial for prostate cancer. It may reduce PSA doubling time and shows synergistic effects with traditional treatments.
- Clinical Studies: EGCG has shown potential in delaying PSA progression and tumor growth in early-stage trials.
4. Apigenin (found in Parsley, Celery)
- Effectiveness: Moderate to High
- Active Compounds: Apigenin.
- Mechanism & Impact: Apigenin has shown to suppress androgen receptor activity, induce apoptosis, and inhibit angiogenesis and cell invasion, making it highly effective against prostate cancer cells. It also sensitizes cancer cells to radiation therapy.
- Clinical Studies: Preclinical studies show significant anti-tumor effects in prostate cancer models; further clinical research is ongoing.
5. Pomegranate (Punica granatum)
- Effectiveness: Moderate to High
- Active Compounds: Ellagic acid, punicalagins.
- Mechanism & Impact: Pomegranate extract reduces PSA doubling time and demonstrates anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects. It’s a potent antioxidant and has shown potential in delaying cancer progression.
- Clinical Studies: Pomegranate juice or extract supplementation has shown promise in reducing PSA levels in prostate cancer patients.
6. Resveratrol (Polygonum cuspidatum, grapes)
- Effectiveness: Moderate to High
- Active Compounds: Resveratrol.
- Mechanism & Impact: Resveratrol reduces androgen receptor activity, induces apoptosis, and hinders cancer cell metastasis. It shows promise in preventing cell growth and enhances the effects of other cancer treatments.
- Clinical Studies: Early trials suggest resveratrol can reduce cancer cell viability and slow cancer progression.
7. Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)
- Effectiveness: Moderate
- Active Compounds: Silymarin, silybin.
- Mechanism & Impact: Silymarin and silybin have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-proliferative effects, reducing PSA levels and potentially inhibiting cancer cell growth.
- Clinical Studies: Studies suggest milk thistle may slow tumor progression and have synergistic effects with chemotherapy.
8. Boswellia (Boswellia serrata)
- Effectiveness: Moderate
- Active Compounds: Boswellic acids.
- Mechanism & Impact: Boswellic acids reduce inflammation, inhibit cell proliferation, and support immune health, with preliminary evidence showing potential for PSA reduction.
- Clinical Studies: Limited studies suggest Boswellia may aid in slowing cancer progression.
9. Amla (Emblica officinalis)
- Effectiveness: Moderate
- Active Compounds: Ellagic acid, gallic acid, vitamin C.
- Mechanism & Impact: Amla is a strong antioxidant and has shown anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects in prostate cancer cell studies. It reduces oxidative stress, which can inhibit cancer cell growth.
- Clinical Studies: Preclinical studies show promise, though clinical research is limited.
10. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
- Effectiveness: Moderate
- Active Compounds: Withaferin A.
- Mechanism & Impact: Withaferin A induces apoptosis, inhibits angiogenesis, and reduces tumor growth, with anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting effects that can support overall health in cancer patients.
- Clinical Studies: Some early studies show tumor reduction and immune support benefits.
11. Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum)
- Effectiveness: Moderate
- Active Compounds: Beta-glucans, ganoderic acids.
- Mechanism & Impact: Reishi is known for its immune-modulating and anti-proliferative properties, potentially lowering PSA levels and inhibiting cancer cell growth.
- Clinical Studies: Limited studies show immune-enhancing and tumor-reducing effects in cancer patients.
12. Quercetin (found in apples, onions)
- Effectiveness: Moderate
- Mechanism & Impact: Quercetin inhibits androgen receptor activity, induces apoptosis, and reduces inflammation in prostate cancer cells. It is often studied in combination with curcumin for enhanced effects.
- Clinical Studies: Promising in preclinical studies; limited human studies show synergy with other compounds.
13. Lycopene (found in tomatoes)
- Effectiveness: Moderate
- Mechanism & Impact: Lycopene, a strong antioxidant, has been shown to reduce cancer cell proliferation, lower PSA levels, and protect against DNA damage.
- Clinical Studies: Some studies suggest slower PSA progression and reduced tumor growth in prostate cancer patients.
14. Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
- Effectiveness: Moderate
- Active Compounds: 6-Gingerol, 6-Shogaol.
- Mechanism & Impact: Ginger components inhibit cell proliferation, induce apoptosis, and provide anti-inflammatory effects that benefit prostate cancer.
- Clinical Studies: Limited studies show potential in reducing cancer cell viability and inflammation.
Considerations
This ordering is based on current research. While curcumin, sulforaphane, green tea, and apigenin are among the most effective, it’s essential to consult with healthcare professionals before using these herbs, especially in combination with mCRPC treatments, due to potential interactions and specific patient considerations.
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