New Hope for AML Patients: Vitamin Supplements May Reduce Risk of Infections, Bleeding, and Inflammation

In a recent study published in Blood Advances, individuals with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who were administered vitamin C and D supplements alongside intense chemotherapy demonstrated a decreased frequency of complications like infections, bleeding, and immune system inflammation.

This was in contrast to a similar patient group from past treatment records who did not get these supplements.

While no survival rate differences were observed between these groups, a remarkable discovery was made: AML patients with a specific genetic mutation called NPM1 saw nearly a 50% reduced mortality rate if they were taking these vitamins.

The study was recently featured in the Blood Advances journal.

According to the study’s lead researcher, Dr. Christian Récher from the University Cancer Institute of Toulouse, France, “this is the first study to examine the potential effects of vitamin C and D supplementation during intensive chemotherapy for AML,” and “We have shown that supplementation is feasible and safe and may help reduce some significant adverse events associated with intensive chemotherapy, which is a clear benefit for patients.”

This research initiative started after several earlier studies pointed to the positive impact of vitamin D levels on the success of donor stem cell transplants for AML patients, and laboratory tests showed that vitamin C could potentially inhibit the growth of leukemia cells.

The researchers evaluated 431 AML patients who underwent intensive chemotherapy at their institute over five years. Of these, 169 patients treated between 2018 and 2020 were given vitamin C and D supplements, while 262 patients treated from 2015 to 2018 served as the control group.

In the group that received vitamin supplements, the average age was 65, and women constituted 52% of the patients. In contrast, the control group had a median age of 60, with men making up 53% of the group. When initially diagnosed with AML, a majority of patients in both sets exhibited deficient levels of vitamins C and D.

Around one-fourth of those in the supplemented group and one-third in the control group later underwent stem cell transplantation from donors. The period for following up on the patients was roughly 28.7 months for those receiving supplements and 58.2 months for the controls.

For those who took the vitamin supplements, levels of vitamin D surged noticeably from an initial 18 ng/mL to 39 ng/mL after completing the intensive chemotherapy regimen. The typical vitamin D range is between 20 and 50 ng/mL. There was no corresponding increase in vitamin C levels, likely because of the moderate supplementation dosage of 6 grams weekly.

During the high-intensity chemotherapy process, fewer supplemented patients experienced significant issues. Specifically, 27.2% faced moderate to severe bacterial infections compared to 35.1% in the control group; only 1.8% had bleeding complications as opposed to 5.7% in the control group; and a mere 1.8% encountered life-threatening immune system inflammation, in contrast to 8.8% in the control group.

The median duration of overall survival stood at 34.5 months, while survival without relapse was around 20.6 months. Relapse occurred in 46.4% of the cases. When all outcomes were evaluated together, no marked disparities were evident between the supplemented and control groups.

Interestingly, the data did reveal that AML patients with the NPM1 mutation—found in 30-35% of all AML patients—showed a notably reduced risk of mortality when they received the vitamin supplements.

Dr. Récher stated that “The survival benefits for NPM1 mutation carriers were unexpected, warranting further investigation in larger, randomized trials.”

It’s worth mentioning that the study has some limitations, including its retrospective nature, single-center scope, and the inability to isolate the effects of vitamin C and D.

Yet, despite these constraints, Dr. Récher finds the findings promising. “Our results are encouraging and support prospective clinical trials of vitamin C and D administration in AML patients,” he concluded.

Patients are reminded to consult their healthcare teams for personalized medical advice, including the use of over-the-counter medications and supplements.

Source: AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HEMATOLOGY

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