Condition
Radiation Therapy Side-Effects
Radiation therapy damages cancer cells but also nearby healthy tissue, which can cause skin redness and peeling, mouth sores, diarrhea and fatigue that usually fade after treatment. Among supplements, trials found less severe skin inflammation with hyaluronic acid (moderate evidence) and a lower dermatitis risk with calendula (limited evidence). Those findings rest on small numbers, and one calendula trial found no difference from a plain cream, while aloe vera showed no effect.
Sources: PMID 35152333; PMID 15084618
- Supplements studied
- 4
- Graded outcomes
- 4
- Trials
- 4
- People studied
- 3,815
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dermatitis Severity Moderate Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 1 study | 104 people | ||
Studies that measured dermatitis severity | ||||||
| Mucositis Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 107 people | ||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dermatitis Risk Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 3 studies | 756 people | ||
Studies that measured dermatitis risk
| ||||||
| Itching Mixed effect | 420 people | |||||
| Mucositis Symptoms | Changes; see studies | 1 study | 40 people | |||
| Pain | Changes; see studies | 420 people | ||||
Aloe Vera
- Dermatitis Risk
- Erythema: improves
- Itching: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dermatitis Risk No effect on radiation dermatitis prevention | NoneNo effect | 763 people | ||||
| Erythema | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 833 people | |||
| Itching | Improves (the measure goes up) | 833 people | ||||
Probiotics
- Mucositis Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mucositis Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 2 studies | 1,055 people | |||
Studies that measured mucositis symptoms | ||||||
Key findings
- Dermatitis SeverityImproves (the measure goes down)
- Dermatitis RiskImproves (the measure goes down)
- Itching
The Radiation Therapy Side Effects Supportive Care protocol
2 primary supplements · 7 supporting supplements
- Glutamine10–30 g daily in divided doses (starting before radiation)
- Probiotics10–50 billion CFU daily multi-strain (starting before pelvic/abdominal radiation)
Studies cited
8 studies from PubMed
- The effect of probiotics on severe oral mucositis in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy: A meta-analysis.
- Efficacy of probiotics in the treatment of oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Effect of hyaluronic acid on radiotherapy-induced mucocutaneous side effects: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Use of calendula ointment after episiotomy: a randomized clinical trial.
- Phase III randomized trial of Calendula officinalis compared with trolamine for the prevention of acute dermatitis during irradiation for breast cancer.
- No differences between Calendula cream and aqueous cream in the prevention of acute radiation skin reactions--results from a randomised blinded trial.
- Antioxidant capacity of calendula officinalis flowers extract and prevention of radiation induced oropharyngeal mucositis in patients with head and neck cancers: a randomized controlled clinical study.
- Natural and miscellaneous agents for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.