Anti-aging supplements taken by millions may undermine cancer treatment, study warns
A recent study raises concerns that popular over-the-counter supplements taken by millions for energy and to lessen chemotherapy side effects may actually be undermining cancer treatments.
Conducted by researchers at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, the investigation focused on vitamin B3 derivatives—specifically nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), nicotinamide riboside (NR), and nicotinamide (NAM). These compounds are utilized by the body to produce NAD+, a molecule essential for cellular energy generation and damage repair. While increasing NAD+ levels through dietary supplements can benefit healthy, non-cancerous cells, the study found that pancreatic cancer cells exploit these extra resources to repair chemotherapy-induced damage and evade cell death.
The research, published in the journal Cancer Letters, examined how these supplements interact with treatments for pancreatic cancer, a particularly deadly form of the disease with a 13% five-year survival rate, according to the American Cancer Society. In both laboratory settings and animal models, the supplements shielded cancer cells from three common chemotherapy drugs: oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and gemcitabine. As a result, tumors survived chemotherapy doses that typically would prove fatal to them.
Lead author Jordan Winter, a professor at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and co-leader of the developmental therapeutics program at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, emphasized the significance of the discovery. "Our findings highlight a potentially concerning role for NAD+-boosting supplements in the context of active cancer, especially when used in conjunction with chemotherapy," Winter said in a press release. He also noted, "This research is a critical reminder that ‘natural’ doesn’t always mean safe, especially in the complex biology of cancer treatment," and described the discovery as "a call to action for the medical community."
The study notes that while these B3 derivatives are not considered dangerous for healthy individuals using them for general wellness, the risk becomes significant for patients currently undergoing active cancer therapy. In light of the findings, the research team recommends that oncology teams begin routinely screening patients for supplement use and called for more studies into how NAD+ precursors interact with cancer therapies. Winter urged patients currently in treatment to consult their oncologists before taking any over-the-counter supplements.
The research team also highlighted several limitations that warrant caution when interpreting the results. Because the study relied exclusively on laboratory cell cultures and animal models rather than human clinical trials, the findings may not directly translate to how human patients process these supplements during treatment. Additionally, the research focused solely on pancreatic cancer, meaning the supplements may not have the same effect on chemotherapy for other cancer types or with different drug combinations. The study also only evaluated short-term cellular responses under controlled laboratory conditions, so it remains unclear how these supplements could affect cancer patients over the long term.