How important are flavonoids in protecting against cancer?

Flavonoids are known to protect against radiation-induced free radical damage. In a comparison study, luteolin was found to be the most effective extract in reducing radiation damage to cells.

 

What is cancer induced cachexia (CIC)? 

Cancer induced cachexia, also known as cancer wasting, is an abnormal hyper metabolic state, characterized by muscle proteolysis and lipolysis, as well as decreased muscle synthesis. Increasing calorie intake cannot reduce or reverse CIC.

 

Pro-inflammatory cytokines cause cachexia.

Figure 1: Pro-inflammatory cytokines cause cachexia.

What causes CIC and how CIC develops is complex. However, the final common pathway appears to be cytokine induced inflammation. When tumour cells initiate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, cachexia is induced. The cytokines include multiple interleukin’s, which vary by cancer type (IL 1, 3 and 6), interferon gamma, tissue necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and subsequently NF-kB. These proteins initiate inflammation, causing both adipose and muscle tissue to breakdown. This results in the clinical muscle wasting and fat loss seen with end-stage cancer patients.

 

Luteolin, the active ingredient in LutiMax® has anti-inflammatory actions inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Luteolin’s anti-inflammatory actions modulate the T lymphocyte’s calcium and potassium channels. This inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokines from activating the T cells.

While research is ongoing, it appears that long-term pre-treatment with bioflavonoids is more beneficial than an acute course during the actual cancer treatment.

Because of this, it is best to maintain bioflavonoid Luteolin serum levels consistently on a daily basis. This is an inexpensive and essentially harmless way of reducing the chronic inflammatory process, which may indeed be part of the trigger of cancers themselves.

 

How is CIC treated?

Treatment for CIC should be multi-modality. The cornerstone should be drugs targeting the underlying inflammatory process, such as NSAIDS and anabolic therapy (oxandrolone), along with nutritional assessment, dietary and conditionally essential nutrients.

Macro nutrient changes, such as increased protein intake, supplemental omega-3 fatty acids and bioflavonoids high in Luteolin should be considered. There is a need to optimise the nutritional state and encourage repair of tissues throughout the course of the cancer therapy, not just during cancer surgery or procedures. The purpose is to decrease morbidity and mortality, and increase the quality of life.

Figure 2: How to optimise the nutritional state and encourage tissue repair during cancer therapy 

 

To reduce the considerable morbidity associated with CIC, the following measures are expected:

• proper identification and management of the side effects arising from chemotherapy and radiation

• promotion of nutritional status

• prevention of muscle loss

 

How does LutiMax^® help cancer patients? 

FDA approved medical food, LutiMax^®, is a Conditionally Essential Nutrient (CEN) that addresses all of the above measures to reduce morbidity associated with CIC. First, LutiMax^® addresses the nutritional deficiencies that exist with CIC. The use of micro-nutrients and ensuring good nutritional intake in CIC is attractive when considering the cost and side effects of other interventions. It is well established in medical literature that restoring nutritional status has beneficial effects on patients’ outcome after surgery, as well as during chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

On its own, LutiMax^® is not adequate for the treatment of cancer and/or CIC. Instead, LutiMax^® is used as an adjunct to support clinically accepted cancer treatment. LutiMax^® helps patients to cope with the side effects that accompany cancer and its treatment.

Figure 3: Possible side effects of cancer treatment

 

LutiMax^® is a unique, proprietary, patented combination of Rutin and Luteolin bioflavonoid mixture designed to produce and maintain high serum concentrations of Luteolin in the body. Because Luteolin has anti-inflammatory actions to weaken the potential side effects of cancer and its treatment, patients can avoid drastic muscle wasting and fat loss. This means patients can look forward to improved response to treatment. Cancer patients, along with their family members and caregivers, can enjoy a better quality of life with LutiMax^®.

LutiMax^® is hypoallergenic and does not interact with drugs administered during cancer treatment to cause side effects. It is suitable for vegetarians.

You may find formulations of luteolin and rutin on the market. However, their concentrations are not optimised. These manufacturers and distributors have breached the patent.

 

Read Real People Stories about cancer here.