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Immunstimulanzien aus der Naturheilkunde und ihr Einsatz bei Neoplasien

Naturopathic immunostimulants and their use in cancer

  • Integrative Onkologie
  • Published:
Der Onkologe Aims and scope

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund

Immunstimulanzien aus der Naturheilkunde sind rezeptfrei erhältlich und werden durch viele Patienten zusätzlich zu der konventionellen onkologischen Therapie eingenommen.

Ziel der Arbeit

Darstellung von Immunstimulanzien aus der Naturheilkunde und deren Einsatz bei malignen Erkrankungen.

Material und Methoden

Narrative Übersichtsarbeit.

Ergebnisse

Zu den Immunstimulanzien, die häufig in der komplementären Medizin eingesetzt werden und die zu einer Aktivierung von unspezifischen Immunparametern führen, gehören Substanzen pflanzlichen Ursprungs wie Echinacin, Umckaloabo, Mistel und sog. Heilpilze. Zusätzlich gibt es Immunstimulanzien aus Thymus, also tierischen Ursprungs. Die Datenlage aus klinischen Studien zum Einsatz von naturheilkundlichen Immunstimulanzien bei malignen Erkrankungen ist limitiert. Vor allem gibt es keine belastbaren Daten, dass es zu einer Verbesserung von relevanten klinischen Parametern, also einer Aktivierung von Immunzellen gegen den Tumor selbst oder zu einer Verbesserung der Lebensqualität oder von Nebenwirkungen der Tumortherapie durch den zusätzlichen Einsatz von naturheilkundlichen Immunstimulanzien, kommt.

Schlussfolgerung

Es ergibt sich ein potenziell negatives Nutzen-Risiko-Verhältnis. Im Zuge der Patientenaktivierung sind Informationen zur Bedeutung eines gesunden Lebensstils, zur körperlichen Aktivität und ausgewogenen Ernährung besser geeignet.

Abstract

Background

Immunostimulants from naturopathy are available without a prescription and are taken by many patients in addition to the conventional oncological therapy.

Objectives

Presentation of evidence concerning immune stimulants from naturopathy which are used by patients with cancer.

Materials and methods

Narrative review.

Results

Immunostimulants, which have been shown to activate unspecific immune parameters, include echinacin, umckaloabo, mistletoe and medicinal mushrooms. In addition, there are stimulants from thymus, which are of animal origin. Data from clinical studies on the use of naturopathic immunostimulants in malignancies is limited. Above all, there is no reliable data that additional use of naturopathic immunostimulants lead to an improvement of relevant clinical parameters as tumor growth, survival, quality of life or side effects of tumor treatment.

Conclusions

There is a potentially negative benefit–risk ratio. With respect to patient activation, information about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, physical activity, and a balanced diet is more appropriate.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medizinische Klinik II, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Deutschland

    Jutta Hübner & Christian Keinki

  2. Klinik Herzoghöhe Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Deutschland

    Christoph Stoll

Authors
  1. Jutta Hübner
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  2. Christoph Stoll
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  3. Christian Keinki
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Correspondence to Jutta Hübner.

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Interessenkonflikt

J. Hübner, C. Stoll und C. Keinki geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht.

Für diesen Beitrag wurden von den Autoren keine Studien an Menschen oder Tieren durchgeführt. Für die aufgeführten Studien gelten die jeweils dort angegebenen ethischen Richtlinien.

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Hübner, J., Stoll, C. & Keinki, C. Immunstimulanzien aus der Naturheilkunde und ihr Einsatz bei Neoplasien. Onkologe 27, 1125–1130 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00761-021-01040-4

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