Zeolite Eases Chemo Neuropathy in Cancer Patients

observational-study PMID: 32414185

Zeolite Eases Chemo Neuropathy in Cancer Patients

Quick Summary: This study tested a special form of zeolite called PMA-zeolite to see if it could help colorectal cancer patients avoid nerve damage from oxaliplatin chemotherapy. While it didn't cut nerve problems for everyone, it worked better for men and let patients handle more chemo rounds with fewer severe side effects. Overall, it shows promise as a natural support during cancer treatment.

What The Research Found

Researchers looked at how PMA-zeolite, a detoxifying mineral supplement, might protect against common chemo side effects. Here's what they discovered in simple terms:

Nerve Damage (Peripheral Neuropathy): About 71% of patients on placebo developed painful nerve issues in hands and feet from chemo. With PMA-zeolite, this dropped to 64%—not a huge overall win, but it made a real difference for men (statistically significant, p=0.047), lowering their risk noticeably.
More Chemo Tolerance: Patients taking PMA-zeolite completed more treatment cycles (p=0.03), meaning they could stick to their cancer plan better without as many breaks.
Blood Side Effects: Severe blood cell drops (hematological toxicity) happened less often with zeolite—a promising trend (p=0.09), though not fully proven yet.
Liver Protection: No big changes in liver issues between groups.

The zeolite seems to work by pulling out toxins like ammonium (a nerve-harming waste from tumors) in the gut, boosting immunity, and fighting cell damage from oxidative stress.

Study Details

Who was studied: 120 adults mostly with colorectal cancer who needed oxaliplatin-based chemo to fight their tumors.
How long: From April 2015 to October 2018, with nerve tests at the start, after 3 months, and after 6 months of treatment.
What they took: Patients got oral PMA-zeolite (brand: Multizeo Med) or a fake placebo pill alongside their regular chemo. (Exact dose amounts weren't detailed in the study.)

Doctors used nerve conduction tests to check for neuropathy and monitored blood and liver health every chemo cycle.

What This Means For You

If you're facing colorectal cancer treatment with oxaliplatin, this research suggests PMA-zeolite could be a helpful add-on to ease nerve pain and tiredness, especially if you're a man. It might help you finish more chemo sessions, improving your chances against cancer without as many harsh side effects. Talk to your doctor before trying zeolite supplements—they're not a cure but could support your body during treatment. Look for certified products made for human use, like PMA-zeolite, to stay safe. Always pair it with your oncologist's advice for the best results.

Study Limitations

Keep these in mind so you don't overhype the findings:
- The overall nerve benefit wasn't strong enough for the whole group (only clear in men), possibly due to the small sample of 120 people.
- We don't know the exact dose used, making it hard to copy at home.
- Follow-up stopped at 6 months, so long-term effects on nerves or health aren't clear.
- The study guessed how zeolite helps (like detox in the gut) but didn't test it directly, so more proof is needed.

For stronger evidence, bigger studies are on the way. Source: PubMed (2020)

Key Findings

The study found that oral PMA-zeolite (Multizeo Med) supplementation during oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy reduced the incidence of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) from 70.6% in the placebo group to 64.3% in the PMA-zeolite group, though this overall difference was not statistically significant. However, in male patients, CIPN incidence was significantly lower with PMA-zeolite (p = 0.047). Patients receiving PMA-zeolite also tolerated more chemotherapy cycles (p = 0.03) and showed a trend toward reduced severe hematological toxicity (p = 0.09).

Study Design

This was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial conducted from April 2015 to October 2018. A total of 120 patients with colorectal cancer undergoing oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy were enrolled. Nerve-conduction studies (NCS) were performed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months to assess CIPN. Hematological and liver toxicity were monitored during each chemotherapy cycle.

Dosage & Administration

The study used PMA-zeolite (Multizeo Med), administered orally during chemotherapy cycles. However, the exact dosage and frequency were not specified in the provided summary.

Results & Efficacy

CIPN Incidence: Placebo group (70.6%) vs. PMA-zeolite group (64.3%) (p = NS for overall comparison).
Gender-Specific Effect: In men, PMA-zeolite significantly reduced CIPN incidence (p = 0.047).
Chemotherapy Tolerance: PMA-zeolite patients completed more chemotherapy cycles (p = 0.03), indicating improved treatment tolerance.
Hematological Toxicity: Severe-grade toxicity occurred less frequently in the PMA-zeolite group, though the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.09).
Liver Toxicity: No significant differences were reported between groups.

Limitations

Subgroup Analysis: The significant gender-specific result (in men) emerged from subgroup analysis, raising concerns about statistical robustness and potential confounding factors.
Sample Size: The study included only 120 patients, which may limit power to detect differences in the overall cohort.
Dosage Ambiguity: The lack of detailed dosing information hinders reproducibility and clinical application.
Short Follow-Up: NCS assessments were limited to 6 months, potentially missing long-term effects of CIPN or zeolite intervention.
Mechanistic Uncertainty: The study hypothesized that PMA-zeolite acts via detoxification and immune modulation but did not directly measure these mechanisms.

Clinical Relevance

For colorectal cancer patients undergoing oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, PMA-zeolite supplementation may improve treatment tolerance by reducing CIPN risk, particularly in men. The trend toward lower severe hematological toxicity suggests potential supportive benefits, though not definitive. Clinicians should consider these preliminary findings cautiously, as larger trials with standardized dosing and mechanistic insights are needed. Patients may benefit from discussing PMA-zeolite as an adjunct therapy with their oncologist, but it should not replace established neuroprotective strategies.

Source: PubMed (2020)