Condition
Radiation Therapy Side-Effects
Radiation therapy damages cancer cells but also nearby healthy tissue, which can cause skin redness and peeling, mouth sores, diarrhea and fatigue that usually fade after treatment. Among supplements, trials found less severe skin inflammation with hyaluronic acid (moderate evidence) and a lower dermatitis risk with calendula (limited evidence). Those findings rest on small numbers, and one calendula trial found no difference from a plain cream, while aloe vera showed no effect.
Sources: PMID 35152333; PMID 15084618
- Supplements studied
- 4
- Graded outcomes
- 4
- Trials
- 4
- People studied
- 3,815
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dermatitis Severity Moderate Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 1 study | 104 people | ||
Studies that measured dermatitis severity | ||||||
| Mucositis Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 107 people | ||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dermatitis Risk Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 3 studies | 756 people | ||
Studies that measured dermatitis risk
| ||||||
| Itching Mixed effect | 420 people | |||||
| Mucositis Symptoms | Changes; see studies | 1 study | 40 people | |||
| Pain | Changes; see studies | 420 people | ||||
Aloe Vera
- Dermatitis Risk
- Erythema: improves
- Itching: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dermatitis Risk No effect on radiation dermatitis prevention | NoneNo effect | 763 people | ||||
| Erythema | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 833 people | |||
| Itching | Improves (the measure goes up) | 833 people | ||||
Probiotics
- Mucositis Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mucositis Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 2 studies | 1,055 people | |||
Studies that measured mucositis symptoms | ||||||
Key findings
- Dermatitis SeverityImproves (the measure goes down)
- Dermatitis RiskImproves (the measure goes down)
- Itching
The Radiation Therapy Side Effects Supportive Care protocol
2 primary supplements · 7 supporting supplements
- Glutamine10–30 g daily in divided doses (starting before radiation)
- Probiotics10–50 billion CFU daily multi-strain (starting before pelvic/abdominal radiation)
Studies cited
80 studies from PubMed
- The effects of probiotic supplementation on cardiometabolic health in patients with prediabetes: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and GRADE assessment.
- Lactococcus lactis strain Plasma activates plasmacytoid dendritic cells and mitigates common cold-like symptoms in healthy adults: a meta-analysis of individual participant data.
- Probiotics and Immune Health: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives
- Probiotics for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Probiotics for Prevention and Treatment of Diarrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Probiotics for the Prevention and Treatment of Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Effects of Probiotics on Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials
- Probiotics and Weight Loss: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- The Gut Microbiome, Probiotics, and Their Impact on Skin Health: A Review
- Health Benefits of Probiotics: A Review
- Probiotics: Comprehensive Review of Growth Promotion Mechanisms and Action in Food Products
- Probiotics: Classification, Mode of Action and Role in Human Nutrition
- Safety of Probiotics: A Comprehensive Review
- Probiotics, Prebiotics and Inflammation: A Review of the Science
- Probiotics and Healthy Ageing: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- World Gastroenterology Organisation Global Guidelines: Probiotics and Prebiotics
- Probiotics for Human Use: Current Advances and Future Perspectives
- Evaluation of the therapeutic effects of Aloe vera gel on minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis
- Acemannan, a Polysaccharide Extracted from Aloe vera, Is Effective in the Treatment of Oral Aphthous Ulceration
- Effects of Aloe Vera in the Treatment of Oral Ulcers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials.
- Efficacy of Aloe Vera Supplementation on Prediabetes and Early Non-Treated Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
- Effect of Aloe vera on glycaemic control in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Effects of Aloe vera in adults with mucocutaneous problems: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Natural and miscellaneous agents for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Is Effective and Safe in Short-term Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
- The effect of versus metronidazole on bacterial vaginosis in women: A double-blind randomized controlled trial.
- Therapeutic effectiveness of a Calendula officinalis extract in venous leg ulcer healing.
- Evaluation of Calendula officinalis as an anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis agent.
- Comparing the effects of Calendula officinalis and clotrimazole on vaginal Candidiasis: A randomized controlled trial.
- Treatment of acute wounds in hand with L.: A randomized trial.
- Antioxidant capacity of calendula officinalis flowers extract and prevention of radiation induced oropharyngeal mucositis in patients with head and neck cancers: a randomized controlled clinical study.
- No differences between Calendula cream and aqueous cream in the prevention of acute radiation skin reactions--results from a randomised blinded trial.
- Phase III randomized trial of Calendula officinalis compared with trolamine for the prevention of acute dermatitis during irradiation for breast cancer.
- Use of calendula ointment after episiotomy: a randomized clinical trial.
- Low-level laser therapy and Calendula officinalis in repairing diabetic foot ulcers.
- Calendula extract: effects on mechanical parameters of human skin.
- Effect of hyaluronic acid on radiotherapy-induced mucocutaneous side effects: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- A Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy of Hyaluronic Acid Eye Drops for the Treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome
- Probiotics for people with cystic fibrosis.
- Probiotics for the prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- The effects of probiotics supplements on metabolic indices and clinical signs in patients with diabetic retinopathy, a randomized double blind clinical trial.
- Effect of applying Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum N793 to the scalps of men and women with thinning hair: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study.
- Randomized Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Effect of Probiotic Intake on Androgenic Alopecia.
- Impact of probiotics on sleep quality and mood states in patients with insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Gaba-producing lactobacilli boost cognitive reactivity to negative mood without improving cognitive performance: A human Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Cross-Over study.
- The effect of probiotic consumption on lipid profile, glycemic index, inflammatory markers, and liver function in NAFLD patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Efficacy of probiotics in the treatment of oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
- The effect of probiotics on severe oral mucositis in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy: A meta-analysis.
- Oral probiotic supplementation to alleviate diarrhea induced by fluoropyrimidines or irinotecan-based chemotherapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
- The impact of probiotics on core autism symptoms - A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.
- Efficacy and safety of Bacteroides fragilis BF839 for pediatric autism spectrum disorder: a randomized clinical trial.
- Probiotics for autism spectrum disorder: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of effects on symptoms.
- The efficacy and safety of probiotics in the adjuvant treatment of psoriasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Effects of probiotic supplementation on testosterone levels in healthy ageing men: A 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial.
- A 12-Week, Single-Centre, Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Design Clinical Trial for the Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SKO-001 in Reducing Body Fat.
- Effects of oral supplementation of probiotics on body weight and visceral fat in obese patients: a meta-analysis and systematic review.
- The effects of probiotics administration during pregnancy on preeclampsia and associated maternal, fetal, and newborn outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Effects of probiotics supplementation on glycemic profile in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A grade-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- The Effect of Probiotics on Obesity with Comorbid Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
- A network meta-analysis of probiotics in the treatment of childhood asthma.
- Efficacy of probiotics as adjuvant therapy in bronchial asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii as an adjuvant therapy for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori: a meta-analysis.
- Efficacy of probiotics regimens for Helicobacter pylori eradication: A systematic review, pairwise, and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Effect of probiotics on C-reactive protein levels in schizophrenia: Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Probiotics Supplementation for Improving Glucolipid Parameters in Individuals with Prediabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials.
- Systematic review and meta-analysis on probiotics as treatment for food allergies among pediatric patients: A 2024 update.
- Efficacy of Oral Probiotic Supplementation in Preventing Vulvovaginal Infections During Pregnancy: A Randomized and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.
- Clinical effects of probiotics on the treatment of gingivitis and periodontitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Evaluation of the efficacy of probiotics in the chemoradiotherapy of colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- Clinical efficacy of probiotic supplementation in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis.
- The effect of probiotics on select cognitive domains in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Efficacy of probiotic supplementation in influencing cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Effectiveness of probiotic supplements on cognitive function in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Probiotics are a good choice for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trial
- Efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 for the treatment of pediatric acute diarrhea in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Efficacy of probiotics in reducing the duration and severity of acute gastroenteritis in children: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Investigating the effects of probiotics during the menopause transition: A systematic review & meta-analysis.
- Effects of probiotic supplements on bone mineral density and bone turnover markers in postmenopausal women: A systematic review.
- Impact of probiotic supplementation on serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor: GRADE-based dose-response meta-analysis.
- Probiotic Supplementation and Inflammatory Status in Coronary Artery Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.