The Philadelphia Inquirer
April 25, 2008
It's probably best to use mistletoe to grab a quick smooch around Christmas time rather than as a supplement to help fight cancer, at least for now.
More than 20 previous studies of mistletoe extracts were analyzed by the Cochrane Collaboration, a nonprofit organization that reviews health care research.
The extracts are among the most prescribed drugs for cancer patients in several European countries. Proponents say mistletoe boosts the immune system and reduce the negative effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment in cancer patients.
Cochrane researchers examined 21 clinical trials of mistletoe extracts alone or in conjunction with radiation or chemotherapy. All told, the studies included nearly 3,500 cancer patients from Austria, Bulgaria, China, Germany, Italy, Romania, Russia and Ukraine.
The researchers concluded that the evidence supporting the use of mistletoe extracts was "weak." While there was some evidence that it might benefit breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, they said, high quality independent studies are needed to truly assess its value and safety.
Copyright (c) 2008, The Philadelphia Inquirer
