microorganisms Review Food Supplements to Mitigate Detrimental Effects of Pelvic Radiotherapy Charlotte Segers 1,2 , Mieke Verslegers 1, Sarah Baatout 1,3, Natalie Leys 1, Sarah Lebeer 2 and Felice Mastroleo 1,* 1 Interdisciplinary Biosciences Group, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK•CEN), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium;
[email protected] (C.S.);
[email protected] (M.V.);
[email protected] (S.B.);
[email protected] (N.L.) 2 Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium;
[email protected] 3 Department of Biotechnology, University of Ghent, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +32-14-31-23-88 Received: 26 February 2019; Accepted: 28 March 2019; Published: 3 April 2019 Abstract: Pelvic radiotherapy has been frequently reported to cause acute and late onset gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Although the underlying mechanisms of pelvic radiation-induced GI toxicity are poorly understood, they are known to involve a complex interplay between all cell types comprising the intestinal wall. Furthermore, increasing evidence states that the human gut microbiome plays a role in the development of radiation-induced health damaging effects. Gut microbial dysbiosis leads to diarrhea and fatigue in half of the patients. As a result, reinforcement of the microbiome has become a hot topic in various medical disciplines. To counteract GI radiotoxicities, apart from traditional pharmacological compounds, adjuvant therapies are being developed including food supplements like vitamins, prebiotics, and probiotics. Despite the easy, cheap, safe, and feasible approach to protect patients against acute radiation-induced toxicity, clinical trials have yielded contradictory results.