Cystic Fibrosis

Also Know As Mucoviscidosis, Fibrocystic Disease of the Pancreas

Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:

Turmeric [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Early laboratory studies show that turmeric may be of benefit in the treatment of cystic fibrosis. However, further studies are needed)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Vitamin A Supplement [8]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. 

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that vitamin A supplements are able to help treat cystic fibrosis. More studies needed)

Grade of Evidence: Very low quality of evidence

Vitamin D Supplement [9, 10, 11]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. 

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Early studies show vitamin D may be beneficial for those with CF. More studies needed)

Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence

Vitamin K Supplement [12]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. 

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that vitamin k supplements are able to help treat cystic fibrosis. More studies needed)

Grade of Evidence: Very low quality of evidence

* www.gradeworkinggroup.org

Summary References

Treatments:

1. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009

2. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/turmeric

3. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-turmeric.html

4. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/turmeric/index.htm

5. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1668932.stm

6. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/10/28/curry-kills-cancer-cells-and-other-health-benefits-of-the-nations-favourite-dish-115875-21779950/

7. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=turmeric

8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22895955

9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24823922

10. http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ije/2010/218691/

11. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22513949

12. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11391328

Public Discussion