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Effect of Coenzyme Q10, Riboflavin and Niacin on Tamoxifen treated postmenopausal breast cancer women with special reference to blood chemistry profiles

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Abstract

Background Tamoxifen (TAM) a non-steroidal antiestrogen, is widely used in adjuvant therapy for all stages of breast carcinomas and in chemoprevention of high-risk group. TAM also has estrogenic activity on liver and endometrium causing severe oxidative stress with various biochemical derangements. Coenzyme Q10, Riboflavin and Niacin (CoRN) are well-known potent antioxidants and protective agents against many diseases including cancer. In this context, this study was undertaken to find if co-administration of TAM along with CoRN could alleviate the sole TAM-induced biochemical derangements in postmenopausal women with breast cancer. Method The vitamin supplementation with TAM was given for a period of 90 days. Blood samples were collected at the base line, 45th and 90th day during the course of treatment. Various blood chemistry profiles were assessed in 78 untreated, sole TAM treated and combinatorial treated group along with 46 age- and sex-matched controls. Results A statistically significant alteration in various blood chemistry parameters, such as serum total bilirubin (S. BIL), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT), uric acid (UA), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), lecithin: cholesterol acyl transferases (LCAT), potassium, calcium and Na+, K+-ATPase in sole TAM-treated group, was favorably reverted back to near normal levels on combinatorial therapy with CoRN. Conclusion TAM on co-administration with CoRN has a favorable impact on various blood chemistry profiles. However, large scale randomized studies over a longer time span are required to ascertain the safety and efficacy of co-administrating antioxidants with conventional chemotherapy.

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Acknowledgments

The authors whole-heartedly thank Kaneka Corp., Japan for their philanthropic gift of Coenzyme Q10 samples and Madras Pharmaceuticals, Chennai, India for Niacin and Riboflavin samples. The technical expertise provided by Miss. Sridevi of Saravana Clinical Laboratory, Chennai, Dr. P. Shiva Kumar, Dr. Sarepaul, and Mr. Neelamohan of Kumaran Hospital, Chennai, Dr. Krishana Hande and Dr. Indira Hande of Hande Hospital, Chennai, Dr. K. Rengaswamy and Dr. A.L. Arun Kumar of Appaswamy Hospital, and Mr. S. Sasi Kumar, Dr. D. Dakshayani and Dr. V. Jaganathan of Billroth Hospital, Chennai is greatly acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Biochemistry, Dr. ALMP-GIBMS, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, 600 113, Tamil Nadu, India

    Srinivasan Yuvaraj, Vummidi Gridhar Premkumar & Panchanatham Sachdanandam

  2. Department of Pathology, Dr. ALMP-GIBMS, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, 600 113, Tamil Nadu, India

    Palanivel Shanthi

  3. Department of Medical Oncology, Government Royapettah Hospital, Kilpauk Medical College, Chennai, 600 014, Tamilnadu, India

    Kothandaraman Vijayasarathy & Sitthu Govindaswamy Dinakaran Gangadaran

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  1. Srinivasan Yuvaraj
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  2. Vummidi Gridhar Premkumar
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Correspondence to Panchanatham Sachdanandam.

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Yuvaraj, S., Premkumar, V.G., Shanthi, P. et al. Effect of Coenzyme Q10, Riboflavin and Niacin on Tamoxifen treated postmenopausal breast cancer women with special reference to blood chemistry profiles. Breast Cancer Res Treat 114, 377–384 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-008-0012-7

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