Abstract
Dietary supplements (DSs) are not recommended for the prevention of cancer recurrence. Although DS use is common in individuals living with and beyond cancer, its associations with beliefs about reduced cancer recurrence risk and demographic and health behaviors are unclear. Adults (18 years old or older) who had been diagnosed with breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer were recruited through National Health Service sites in Essex and London. Participants completed a mailed survey and telephone or online 24-hour dietary recalls (MyFood24). Supplement use was collected during the dietary recalls. Associations between DS use and demographics, health behaviors, and beliefs about DSs and cancer were explored. Nineteen percent of 1049 individuals believed that DSs were important for the reduction of cancer recurrence risk, and 40% of individuals reported DS use. DS use was positively associated with being female (odds ratio [OR], 2.48; confidence interval [CI], 1.72-3.56), meeting 5-a-day fruit and vegetable recommendations (OR, 1.36; CI, 1.02-1.82), and believing that DSs were important for reducing cancer recurrence risk (OR, 3.13; CI, 2.35-4.18). DS use was negatively associated with having obesity (OR, 0.58; CI, 0.38-0.87). The most commonly taken DSs overall were fish oils (taken by 13%). Calcium with or without vitamin D was the most common DS taken by individuals with breast cancer (15%). DS use by individuals living with and beyond cancer is associated with demographic factors and health behaviors. A belief that DSs reduce the risk of cancer recurrence is common and positively associated with DS use. There is a need for health care professionals to provide advice about DS use and cancer recurrence risk.
Highlights
Improvements in cancer diagnosis and treatment mean that the number of individuals living with and beyond cancer (LWBC) is increasing globally
We included eligible participants randomized within the trial who completed the first 24-h our dietary recall requested. (ASCOT was conducted in 2 phases with additional participants recruited in 2019 when a 2-year follow-u p assessment was added to the trial; 1151 participants were randomized in the first phase, with 102 not completing the first 24-h our dietary recall.) Ethical approval was obtained through the National Research Ethics Service Committee South Central–Oxford B
In this study, 40% of individuals with breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer reported Dietary supplements (DSs) use, and this was more common among individuals who believed that DSs were important in reducing cancer recurrence risk
Summary
Improvements in cancer diagnosis and treatment mean that the number of individuals living with and beyond cancer (LWBC) is increasing globally. In the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), high levels of supplementation were associated with a higher proportion of cancer survivors having intakes of calcium and certain other micronutrients above the tolerable upper intake level.[4] There is the potential for DSs to compromise treatment efficiency[4,5] or interact with medications.[6] Individuals LWBC may be taking medications not just to treat cancer and manage side effects and for comorbidities. DS use is common in individuals living with and beyond cancer, its associations with beliefs about reduced cancer recurrence risk and demographic and health behaviors are unclear. DS use was positively associated with being female (odds ratio [OR], 2.48; confidence interval [CI], 1.72-3.56), meeting 5-a -day fruit and vegetable recommendations (OR, 1.36; CI, 1.02-1.82), and believing that DSs were important for reducing cancer recurrence risk (OR, 3.13; CI, 2.35-4 .18). A belief that DSs reduce the risk of cancer recurrence is common and positively associated with DS use.
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