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Vitamin and
Mineral Supplement use among U.S. adults
after Cancer diagnosis
Newswise — Many of the
10 million cancer patients in the US are
taking nutritional supplements, but an
accurate assessment of the frequency is not
well appreciated. In the February 1, 2008
issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology,
Christine Velicer and Cornelia Ulrich report
a systematic review of supplement use among
US cancer patients.
Prostate cancer
patients are among the lowest users of
supplements.
A total of 32 studies
published between 1999 and 2006 met the
criteria for review of prevalence of vitamin
and mineral supplement use among patients
undergoing active cancer treatment.
The
review revealed that a range of 64% to 81%
of survivors reported any vitamin or mineral
supplement use and 26% to 77% reported using
any vitamins.
Nine studies reported use
among breast cancer survivors, and use of
any vitamins or minerals was 67%-87% and
multivitamin use was 57%-62%.
The increase
in use after breast cancer diagnosis was up
to 32%.
Complimentary and alternative
medicine (CAM) use was associated with
younger age, higher education, greater
physical activity and psychosocial factors.
Use of any vitamins was 38%-43% for
colorectal cancer patients and 60% for lung
cancer patients.
In comparison, use of
any vitamins among prostate cancer patients
was 26%-35% and multivitamin use ranged from
13%-23%. Megavitamin use was 4%-24%.
CAM use
for prostate cancer patients was associated
with higher education and higher income, but
not cancer stage. Age and ethnicity were not
clearly associated.
In one study, 15% of
patients undergoing radiotherapy used
high-dose vitamins, but the treating
physicians actually estimated that less than
5% were using them.
After a diagnosis of
prostate cancer, 15% of patients began using
CAM (57% were already using CAM) but only
51% informed their physicians. In one study
20% of patients reported that their treating
urologist or radiotherapist never raised the
issue of CAM use with them.
The authors point out
that while some therapies such as St. John's
wort may interfere with drug metabolism, a
great understanding of the effects and
utilization of CAM among cancer patients is
needed. At the very least, physicians should
gather intake about CAM use among their
patients.
provides the most in
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professionals.
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