A study published in Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology (2001; 47(Suppl.): S55–S63) evaluated the use of oral enzyme therapy in 1,242 patients with colorectal cancer. Participants were divided into two main groups: 616 patients received oral enzymes, while 626 did not.
Within the enzyme group, 182 patients used oral enzymes alone, 405 combined enzymes with other complementary therapies, and 29 did not adhere to the treatment protocol. Among those who did not receive enzymes, 229 used other complementary therapies, 29 failed to follow their protocols, and 368 served as controls.
Most participants underwent conventional cancer treatment. Of the total cohort, 1,162 patients received surgery, with 526 also receiving chemotherapy and 218 receiving radiation therapy following surgery.
Patients who received oral enzyme therapy alongside chemotherapy or radiation experienced fewer adverse reactions to these treatments compared with those who did not receive enzymes. The authors emphasized that this finding reflected an improvement in treatment tolerability and quality of life, rather than a direct anticancer effect.
Adverse effects related to enzyme therapy were uncommon. Approximately 3% of participants reported mild side effects, primarily minor gastrointestinal discomfort.
The study suggests that oral enzyme supplementation may offer supportive benefits during conventional cancer treatment, particularly in reducing treatment-related side effects, though it does not establish enzymes as a replacement for standard oncologic care.
