Iron citrate supplementation during pancreas cancer showed surprising results
Synthesit continues to gain attention in the Western scientific world. In the 23rd issue of a cited European scientific journal of the Comenius University of Bratislava "Acta Medica Martiniana", was published a case study on Synthesit.
It depicts a clinical case of a patient with pancreatic cancer. After 3 courses of taking the dietary supplement Synthesit, her blood parameters became normal, which were proven by the results of the tests. The patient began to feel much better and her quality of life and overall well-being improved.
You can learn more about the article on the website of the scientific journal "Acta Medica Martiniana".
Iron is a crucial mineral for our organism and its deficiency can cause serious health problems such as anemia, fatigue, and impaired physical fitness. It has been shown that anemia or iron deficiency is very common in patients with cancer. These patients benefit from iron supplementation either in intravenous or oral form. Our patient is 67 years old Russian woman with diagnosed pancreatic cancer in 2019. She fought off lymphocytic leukemia in 2015. She refused treatment for her pancreatic cancer. Since 2020, she had started to take our dietary supplement Synthesit for three years.
After taking our dietary supplement, a total percentage of neutrophils became in the reference range. Subjectively, the patient started to feel better after taking Synthesit, and her quality of life and well-being has improved as well. It might be supposed that our dietary supplement could have some effect on her well-being and various blood parameters such as white cells count.
Even though our dietary supplement is not supposed to use for treatment of diseases, it can change some blood parameters and improve the immune system.
This short case study presents the patient with pancreatic cancer who started to take our dietary supplement Synthesit which contains iron in the form of citrate salt in a dosage of 800 µg per capsule. It is described a difference in blood test results before taking Synthesit and after the administration of Synthesit.
Keywords: pancreatic cancer, iron supplementation, iron citrate
Iron (Fe) is a vital mineral for various physiological processes in our organism including oxygen metabolism and uptake, electron transport in mitochondria, and energy metabolism. Additionally, iron plays a critical role in maintaining proper muscle function and hematopoiesis, making it indispensable for overall physical functioning and well-being (1,2).
However, the balance of iron homeostasis is crucial, as the presence of free bivalent iron can lead to the generation of free oxygen radicals, causing tissue damage. Therefore, precise control of iron levels is necessary to minimize the concentration of free iron (1).
In the context of cancer, iron regulation and homeostasis may be compromised (3). This can result in inadequate iron supply for erythroblasts leading to weakness, fatigue, impaired physical fitness, well-being and anemia (2). Notably, deficient iron levels are prevalent in patients with pancreatic cancer (63%), underscoring the significance of addressing iron imbalances in this population. This study has indicated that iron supplementation can offer benefits to individuals with cancer (4).
In this case study, it is presented a patient with diagnosed pancreatic cancer who initiated the intake of our dietary supplement Synthesit which contains iron citrate (800 µg per capsule). A comparison of blood test results before and after the administration of Synthesit is examined to explore any potential impacts of the dietary supplement.
This case study presents a unique clinical scenario involving a 67-year-old woman from Russia diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2019. The patient’s medical history includes a dental intervention for tooth extraction in 2015. After the tooth extraction, a complication of infection emerged. Subsequent laboratory analyses revealed the presence of chronic B-lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL), specifically categorised as stage B according to the Binet staging system, with CD20+ positivity. To address the B-CLL diagnosis, the patient underwent a six-month chemotherapy regimen consisting of 6 treatment cycles. However, this therapeutic approach was not without challenges, as the patient experienced complications, including pneumonia episodes after the first and the sixth treatment cycles. Furthermore, nephropathy manifested during chemotherapy, leading to decline in renal function to 35% of its efficiency. The patient also endured various severe adverse effects of chemotherapy such as joint pain, a cataract, gastropathy, elevated hepatic enzyme levels, and oral candidiasis. Eventually, remission from leukemia was achieved in 2019.
In December 2019, a hematologic examination revealed elevated levels of gamma-immunoglobulins (IgG), surpassing 17% of the overall immunoglobulin levels (Table 1A). This finding raised suspicion of an underlying a pancreatic pathology, which was later confirmed to be pancreatic cancer, possibly related to her prior history of leukemia. Despite the diagnosis, the patient made an informed decision to decline conventional anticancer treatments and instead chose to alter her lifestyle significantly.
Opting for a shift from urban to rural living, the patient embraced a lifestyle characterised by regular physical exercise and adherence to a healthful dietary regimen. In an effort to support her immune system, she incorporated the use of an immunostimulant thymulin (also known as a thymic factor). Additionally, the patient initiated the consumption of a dietary supplement, Synthesit, enriched with iron citrate. The dietary supplement was administered over three treatment cycles spanning 3 years, during which her blood parameters exhibited notable improvements (Figure 1).
After the administration of three treatment cycles of the dietary supplement Synthesit, a comparative evaluation of blood analyses conducted in July 2021 and March 2023 demonstrated that the total percentage of neutrophils had improved and now fell within the reference range. Notably, the values observed three years prior to Synthesit intake were lower than the reference range for neutrophils.
Conversely, the analysis conducted in July 2021 indicated that the thrombocyte count was within the reference range, whereas in March 2023, thrombocytopenia and lymphocytosis persisted (Table 1B).
In conjunction with the objective findings, the patient also reported experiencing a notable improvement in her overall well-being and quality of life following the administration of Synthesit. Subjectively, she expressed enhanced satisfaction with her health status, an essential aspect during cancer treatment.
These results suggest a potential beneficial impact of Synthesit on specific hematological parameters, particularly neutrophils and thrombocytes. However, the continued presence of thrombocytopenia and lymphocytosis indicates that additional evaluation and monitoring are required to comprehensively assess the supplement’s long-term effects on hematological profiles.
It is imperative to acknowledge that while subjective improvements in the patient’s well-being are noteworthy, further investigations encompassing a larger cohort and controlled clinical studies are warranted to establish a robust correlation between Synthesit supplementation and hematological parameters in the context of cancer treatment.
Table 1A. Analysis of proteins of blood plasma done in December 2019. Parameters that were out of the reference range are highlighted.
Table 1B. Blood analysis before taking Synthesit in February 2020, during taking in July 2021 and after taking it in March 2023. Parameters that were out of the reference range are highlighted. Values marked as dash mean no data available.
Figure 1. Comparison of various hematological parameters.
Table 2. Analysis of proteins of blood plasma done in March 2023.
Ferric citrate (FC) as a medicine, has been approved as an oral iron replacement product for patients with iron-deficiency anemia (5).
It is intriguing to note that, even in the case where there is no apparent iron deficiency, the dietary supplement appears to potentially assist the patient in maintaining normal hemoglobin levels (Table 1B). However, the extent of its efficacy in this situation remains uncertain.
Additionally, the patient experienced decreased kidney efficiency in 2019. In cases of chronic kidney disease (CKD), ferric citrate has been shown to be an effective source of enteral iron (6). A randomized, placebo-controlled trial in CKD patients demonstrated that ferric citrate significantly improved iron status (7). Considering the patient’s nephropathy as an adverse effect of chemotherapy, the dietary supplement containing iron citrate might assist in maintaining normal iron levels.
Furthermore, the study revealed that ferric citrate significantly reduced the concentration of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) (7). FGF23 is involved in phosphate regulation and can mitigate hyperphosphatemia in CKD patients. However, elevated FGF23 levels are associated with CKD progression (8). Given that both dietary phosphate absorption (9) and iron deficiency (10) potently stimulate FGF23 production, ferric citrate treatment targets both factors to lower circulating FGF23 levels (11).
In more recent study, ferric citrate administration in mice resulted in reduced serum phosphate concentrations and increased serum iron levels. This effect, along with the potential improvement in iron status, led to decreased circulating FGF23 levels. Notably, ferric citrate also demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties, improved kidney function, reduced albuminuria and decreased kidney inflammation and fibrosis. These results suggest potential renoprotective effects of ferric citrate (11).
Based on this study, it is reasonable to consider that the dietary supplement containing ferric citrate may have some protective effects on kidneys, particularly when administered in larger doses. However, further scientific investigations and clinical trials are necessary to validate these observations and establish the safety and efficacy of ferric citrate supplementation for renal protection in human subjects.
This case study serves as an intriguing example of chronic B-lymphocytic leukemia and pancreatic cancer in a patient who opted for a non-conventional treatment approach. The outcomes observed during the course of this study warrant further investigation into the potential synergetic effects of lifestyle modifications and dietary supplements in the management of such complex medical conditions. Nevertheless, this case underscores the importance of personalised and integrative approaches to healthcare and individualized therapeutic decisions.
It is important to highlight that our dietary supplement, Synthesit, is not classified as a medicine and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases, including chronic-B-lymphocytic leukemia and pancreatic cancer. As a dietary supplement, its purpose is to complement a balanced diet and support general well-being.
The participant has voluntarily provided informed consent to participate in the case study.