The Surprising Link Between Vitamin B12 and Cancer Treatment Outcomes
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The Surprising Link Between Vitamin B12 and Cancer Treatment Outcomes

Mesothelioma treatment is an intricate field where even the tiniest factors can play a big role. Recently, scientists discovered something unexpected: a connection between vitamin B12 and how well certain cancer treatments work. Vitamin B12 and Immune-Boosting Cancer Treatments Let’s talk about cancer treatments that boost the immune system, often called immunotherapy. These treatments work by helping the body’s defenses fight cancer. But here’s the twist: scientists found that when people had too much vitamin B12 in their blood while getting this treatment, it didn’t work as well. Imagine vitamin B12 as a helpful friend. Normally, it keeps our body healthy by supporting nerve and blood cells. But when it’s too much, it might interfere with the special immune-boosting treatments…

Mesothelioma Chemotherapy: Can Supplements Make it Safer?
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Mesothelioma Chemotherapy: Can Supplements Make it Safer?

Vitamin B12 and folic acid supplements are often given to mesothelioma patients who are on chemotherapy in an effort to ward off neutropenia, a dangerous drop in white blood cells that can leave patients vulnerable to infection. Neutropenia has been linked to elevated levels of an amino acid called homocysteine, and pemetrexed can raise homocysteine. While some studies have found that supplementation makes chemotherapy less toxic, a team of British doctors found the supplements had little impact on a group of mesothelioma patients who were not on pemetrexed. Scientists at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton, UK randomly assigned 83 patients with advanced lung cancer or malignant mesothelioma to receive platinum-based chemotherapy with or without B12 and folic acid supplementation. They were looking…