Diet, Supplements Do Little for Cancer Patients

Review of research finds little benefit for vitamins and such, but better studies are needed, experts say

By Kathleen Doheny
HealthDay Reporter

Related Encyclopedia • Abdominoplasty • Acidophilus • Adenocarcinoma of the Lung and Brain Metastases • Amenorrhea More... Related Healthscout Videos Meet Dr. Atul Gawande, Author of Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance C-T Scan to Check for Lung Cancer? Zapping Away Cancer Painless 3D Mammograms and Better Technology More... Related Animations • Breast Reduction • Colon Cancer • Erectile Dysfunction • Facelift More... Related Drug Information • Actonel • Detrol LA • Diflucan • Ditropan XL More... Related News Articles • Soaring C-Section Rate Troubles Doctors • Health Tip: Common Causes of Male Infertility • No Clear Evidence Meditation Can Boost Health: Study • Simple Steps Improve Appearance After Thyroid Surgery More...

TUESDAY, July 18 (HealthDay News) -- Nutritional supplements and other dietary changes may do little to help cancer patients alter the course of their illness, according to a major review of research on the subject.

However, because of the limited number and quality of most of the trials studied, the British researchers also said it would be tough to draw definitive conclusions on the effectiveness of such interventions.

Text Continues Below

---

"The take-home point is that the field isn't mature enough for us to know if any intervention works," said Dr. John A. Baron, a Dartmouth Medical School professor who authored an accompanying editorial to the findings published in the July 19 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

The news about diet isn't all discouraging, added the study's lead author, Dr. Steven Thomas of the University of Bristol.

"There are some promising findings particularly for breast cancer, which suggest a reduction in cancer-specific mortality with healthy diet interventions, although the reviewed studies were small," he said.

Thomas' group of researchers reviewed data from 59 studies in what's known as a "meta-analysis." The research included 25 studies involving patients with cancer and 34 with patients with pre-cancerous lesions. The studies covered dietary interventions including supplements of Vitamins A, C, B6, fiber, calcium, folate and beta-carotene, as well as weight loss, exercise, and calorie-reduction.

Some studies did show some benefit. One study suggested that dietary changes might help reduce the risk for breast cancer recurrence. And two studies that focused on increased calcium intake each pointed to a reduced risk of recurrence of colorectal polyps, which can lead to colon cancer.

Of course, eating well is always important for health, Thomas said. "Encouraging a healthy diet is certainly important for general well-being because many patients with cancer will live for along time with increasingly effective medical treatments."

Page:  1 | 2 | Next >>