What effect does a dextrose IV solution have on a pre-chemo fasted state?

mattsims
mattsims Member Posts: 1 *
edited November 2022 in Colorectal Cancer #1

I'm fasting to help with my chemo therapy (XELOX/CAPOX). My chemo drug is oxaliplatin, which is delivered in a dextrose (glucose) solution. What effect does intravenous delivery of glucose have on my fasted cellular state (eg. autophagy, etc.), as opposed to an oral intake of glucose? Does it wreck it just the same, or does skipping the whole GI tract / standard metabolism / liver make it different somehow?

The standard fasting protocol is 48 hours pre-chemo, and then 24 hours post-chemo. But if my bloodstream is being flooded with dextrose during the IV treatment, is there any benefit in the 24 hour post-fasting at that point?

The general idea is that being fasted puts your healthy cells into a starvation induced protective mode that reduces the harm from the chemo drug. But cancer cells don't have that same ability, so are left exposed to the drug. Fasting has also been shown to help with chemo side effects.

I would be grateful for any help from cellular metabolism nerds on this one! Cheers.

Comments

  • SnapDragon2
    SnapDragon2 Member Posts: 703 Member

    Very good question!

    I can't answer your question but have a question for you; How often is bloodwork done and how are your glucose levels with fasting before and after chemo.

    Also. on another site, colontalk, someone had a different combo instead of dextrose. You might want to search there also.