title: A short-term dietary supplementation of high doses of vitamin E increases T helper 1 cytokine production in patients with advanced colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with advanced cancer exhibit multifaceted defects in their immune capacity, which are likely to contribute to an increased susceptibility to infections and disease progression and to constitute a barrier to immunotherapeutic interventions. A chronic inflammatory condition associated with increased oxidative stress has been suggested as one of the responsible mechanisms behind the tumor-induced immune suppression. We, therefore, speculated that supplementation with the antioxidant vitamin E could enhance the immune functions in patients with advanced cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  This hypothesis was here tested in twelve patients with colorectal cancer (Dukes' C and D) who, prior to intervention with chemo- or radiotherapy, received a daily dose of 750 mg of vitamin E during a period of 2 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Short-term supplementation with high doses of dietary vitamin E leads to increased CD4:CD8 ratios and to enhanced capacity by their T cells to produce the T helper 1 cytokines interleukin 2 and IFN-gamma. In 10 of 12 patients, an increase of 10% or more (average, 22%) in the number of T cells producing interleukin 2 was seen after 2 weeks of vitamin E supplementation, as compared with peripheral blood monocyte samples taken before treatment (P = 0.02). Interestingly, there seemed to be a more pronounced stimulatory effect by vitamin E on naïve (CD45RA(+)) T helper cells as compared with T cells with a memory/activated phenotype.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dietary vitamin E may be used to improve the immune functions in patients with advanced cancer, as a supplement to more specific immune interventions.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center Karolinska, Immune and Gene Therapy Laboratory, Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, S-17176 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Karl-Johan
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Malmberg
authors.forename: Rodica
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lenkei
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petersson
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohlum
authors.forename: Fumiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ichihara
authors.forename: Bengt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Glimelius
authors.forename: Jan-Erik
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Frödin
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Masucci
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kiessling
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology*; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000975:Antioxidants; D007376:Interleukin-2; D014810:Vitamin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D001205:Ascorbic Acid