Fermented Wheat Germ Extract
This dietary supplement may improve survival and your response to chemotherapy or radiotherapy, notably among people with colon cancer.
FWGE at a glance
Fermented wheat germ extract (FWGE) is a dietary supplement. Available as either capsules or pills, FWGE has been used as a complementaryin cancer care, complementary care involves the use of therapies intended to enhance or add to standard conventional treatments; examples include supplements, mind-body approaches such as yoga or psychosocial therapy, and acupuncture cancer therapy to help improve quality of life across many types of cancer and improve survival for people with colon cancer or melanoma. FWGE is also known as MSC and wheat germ extract.
Evidence to date is promising that FWGE may improve your clinical response to chemo/radiotherapy. It may also improve your body environment (terrain)the internal conditions of your body, including nutritional status, fitness, blood sugar balance, hormone balance, inflammation and more to make it less supportive of cancer growth and development, reduce your risk of some types of cancer, and improve quality of life and reduce side effects. All the evidence so far is preliminary to modest.
CancerChoices ratings for fermented wheat germ extract
We rate FWGE on seven attributes, with 0 the lowest rating and 5 the highest. We rate the strength of the evidence supporting the use of FWGE for a medical benefit, such as improving treatment outcomes or managing side effects.
See how we evaluate and rate complementary therapies ›
Improving treatment outcomes
See MoreIn two studies, people with colorectal cancer using FWGE with conventional treatment had better survival and their cancer progressed or spread more slowly.
In a small study of people with oral cancer using FWGE with conventional treatment, their cancer progressed much more slowly. People with high-risk and advanced stages of melanoma using FWGE with a chemotherapy drug had significantly better survival in another small study.
Preclinical (lab and animal) studies show FWGE has anticancer effects against these additional cancers: breast, stomach, liver, lung, and ovarian cancers, plus leukemia and lymphoma.
Optimizing your body terrain
See MorePeople with head and neck cancer taking FWGE showed less oxidative stressan imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in your body in which antioxidant levels are lower than normal; this imbalance can cause harmful oxidation reactions in your body chemistry in a small study. Oxidative stress can promote cancer growth and spread.
Managing side effects and promoting wellness
See MoreIn small studies, people with cancer treated with FWGE experienced better quality of life and overall health during or after conventional treatment. In one small study, children with cancer treated with FWGE had fewer episodes of neutropeniaan abnormally low number of neutrophils in the blood, leading to increased susceptibility to infection with fever (febrile neutropenia) during chemotherapy.
Reducing cancer risk
See MoreIn a few studies, people with colorectal cancer or oral cancer using FWGE with conventional treatment had a lower risk of their cancer recurring.
Use by integrative oncology experts
See More- Limited use by our program sources
- Not mentioned in cancer clinical practice guidelines
Safety
See More- Generally safe, with few side effects
- Caution and supervision are needed for people with specific conditions: pregnant and nursing women and people with gluten sensitivity, fructose intolerance, or organ or tissue transplants.
Affordability and access
See More- Widely available
- Somewhat expensive (between $500 US and $2000 US/year)
Keep reading about fermented wheat germ extract
Author
Ms. Hepp is a researcher and communicator who has been writing and editing educational content on varied health topics for more than 20 years. She serves as lead researcher and writer for CancerChoices and also served as the first program manager. Her graduate work in research and cognitive psychology, her master’s degree in instructional design, and her certificate in web design have all guided her in writing and presenting information for a wide variety of audiences and uses. Nancy’s service as faculty development coordinator in the Department of Family Medicine at Wright State University also provided experience in medical research, plus insights into medical education and medical care from the professional’s perspective.
Reviewers
Laura Pole is senior clinical consultant for CancerChoices. Laura is an oncology clinical nurse specialist who has been providing integrative oncology clinical care, navigation, consultation, and education services for over 40 years. She is the co-creator and co-coordinator of the Integrative Oncology Navigation Training at Smith Center for Healing and the Arts in Washington, DC. Laura also manages the “Media Watch Cancer News That You Can Use” listserv for Smith Center/Commonweal. In her role as a palliative care educator and consultant, Laura has served as statewide Respecting Choices Faculty for the Virginia POST (Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment) Collaborative as well as provided statewide professional education on palliative and end-of-life care for the Virginia Association for Hospices and Palliative Care.
For CancerChoices, Laura curates content and research, networks with clinical and organizational partners, brings awareness and education of integrative oncology at professional and patient conferences and programs, and translates research into information relevant to the patient experience as well as clinical practice.
Laura sees her work with CancerChoices as a perfect alignment of all her passions, knowledge and skills in integrative oncology care. She is honored to serve you.
Andrew Jackson, ND, serves as a CancerChoices research associate. As a naturopathic physician practicing in Kirkland, Washington, he teaches critical evaluation of the medical literture at Bastyr University in Kenmore, Washington. His great appreciation of scientific inquiry and the scientific process has led him to view research with a critical eye.
Last update: September 23, 2024
Last full literature review: June 2024
CancerChoices provides information about integrative in cancer care, a patient-centered approach combining the best of conventional care, self care and evidence-informed complementary care in an integrated plan cancer care. We review complementaryin cancer care, complementary care involves the use of therapies intended to enhance or add to standard conventional treatments; examples include supplements, mind-body approaches such as yoga or psychosocial therapy, and acupuncture therapies and self-care lifestyle actions and behaviors that may impact cancer outcomes; examples include eating health-promoting foods, limiting alcohol, increasing physical activity, and managing stress practices to help patients and professionals explore and integrate the best combination of conventionalthe cancer care offered by conventionally trained physicians and most hospitals; examples are chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy and complementary therapies and practices for each person.
Our staff have no financial conflicts of interest to declare. We receive no funds from any manufacturers or retailers gaining financial profit by promoting or discouraging therapies mentioned on this site.