Lactobacillus GG Shines Against 5FU

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The probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG which can be found in supplements such as Culturelle Capsules shines in a chemo drug study against 5FU.

Colon cancer patients were randomly assigned to receive daily supplements of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG during 5FU chemotherapy.¹ This probiotic supplement was well tolerated. They were also randomly treated with the drug either as part of the monthly bolus Mayo Clinic regimen or the bimonthly infusional de Gramont program.

Those who received the probiotic lactobacillus supplements had significantly less severe diarrhea than those who did not – 22% versus 37%.

These patients had less abdominal discomfort, were hospitalized less often, and needed fewer chemo dose reductions due to bowel problems.

Overall there were significantly more severe side effects of all kinds with the Mayo Clinic regimen than with the de Gramont treatment -- 89 percent versus 45 percent, including serious diarrhea.

The researcher’s conclusion was:

That Lactobacillus supplementation may be a practical and well-tolerated means to reduce the severity of 5FU based chemotherapy-induced diarrhoea, and deserves to evaluated further.

The probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG tags up yet another success

What is 5FU?

5FU (fluorouracil) has been used in the battle against cancer for about 40 years. It is a standard cancer treatment against both colorectal cancer and pancreatic cancer, where it acts by binding to an enzyme called thymidilate synthetase which is inside the cancer cells. This interrupts the action of an enzyme which is critical in the synthesis of pyrimidine thymine which is vital in the replication of DNA.

Side effects include soreness of the mouth and difficulty swallowing, diarrhea, stomach pain, low white blood count, sensitivity to the sun, and cardiac toxicity.

It is a pyrimidine-based drug so users need to be aware that some people (believed to be around 8% of the population) have a genetic inability to metabolize it. These people have a deficiency of an enzyme which is crucial for the metabolism and deactivation of the drug, and will suffer severe side effects. There are tests available to confirm this enzyme deficiency.

Most of the cancer treatment drugs can cause severe diarrhea. A 2007 study shows that probiotics can help with this distressing and potentially dangerous side effect that can lead to dehydration, hospitalization, and the need to reduce or discontinue chemo treatment.

REFERENCES

1. Osterlund P, Ruotsalainen T, Korpela R, Saxelin M, Ollus A, Valta P, Kouri, Elomaa I, Joensuu H. Lactobacillus supplementation for diarrhoea related to chemotherapy of colorectal cancer: a randomised study British Journal of Cancer, 97, 1028-1034 2007.

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