What is the evidence for and against green tea and tumeric in the management of CLL?

This study looked at the evidence for and against green tea and turmeric in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The study found that there is a lack of evidence of these treatments in treating CLL.

Complementary alternative medicine (CAM) are a commonly used group of practices and products that are generally not considered part of evidence-based medicine. Green tea and turmeric are common CAM examples used by patients as an addition to conventional treatment in conditions such as CLL. It is important for both doctors and patients to be aware of the evidence behind these treatments in order to be highly informed about treatment choices.

Three studies looked at the effect of green tea on CLL cells from 12 patients in total. One study looked at the effect of green tea on T-cells (immune cells).

In this small study, very high doses of green tea (taken as a capsule) where associated with a lowering of white blood cell levels and in certain T-cells involved in cancer growth. Green tea was found to interact with and increase effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs such as chlorambucil (Leukeran). Results varied more with other drug treatments. The effect of fludabarine was blocked by green tea in 8/14 (57%) of patients with CLL.  

A recent study in 2018 found that green tea may be toxic to the liver and cause abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. However a larger study compared evidence of 34 trials which concluded that liver damage due to green tea was rare.

One clinical trial of 21 patients looked at turmeric use in CLL. Patients received turmeric once daily for 6 months and were later assessed. Four patients (20%) had increased activity of immune cells after turmeric treatment. Side effects of turmeric were not studied in this trial.

The study concluded that there is limited and conflicting evidence for the use of complementary alternative medicine and is not recommended for the treatment of CLL.