title: Natural products and complementary therapies for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: A systematic review.
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.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital St. Louis, APHP, Department of Oncology, 1 Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75010 Paris, France. Electronic address: cloebrami@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Cloé
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brami
authors.affiliation: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Integrative Medicine and Breast Oncology Services, 1429 First Avenue, New York, NY 10021, United States. Electronic address: baot@mskcc.org.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Integrative Medicine Service, 1429 First Avenue, New York, NY 10021, United States. Electronic address: dengg@mskcc.org.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015444:Exercise; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005973:Glutamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005973:Glutamine; D014810:Vitamin E
keywords: Chemotherapy; Complementary therapies; Dietary supplements; Integrative medicine; Natural products; Peripheral neuropathy; Platinum drugs; Randomized controlled trials