Supplement use among men with prostate cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Nutritional Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Prostate cancer is a significant health concern for men.
• Dietary supplement use is prevalent in the general population and among cancer patients.
• Understanding supplement use patterns in prostate cancer patients is crucial for comprehensive care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the patterns of dietary supplement use among men diagnosed with prostate cancer.
• To identify demographic and behavioral factors associated with supplement use.
• To examine changes in supplement use following a prostate cancer diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• A survey was mailed to 1402 men diagnosed with prostate cancer at Duke University Medical Center between 1997 and 2002.
• The survey collected data on health status, education, diet, exercise, smoking, and supplement intake.
• Statistical analyses were performed to compare subgroups and assess changes in supplement use.

Main Results:

• Of 805 respondents, 73% reported using supplements, with multivitamins, vitamin E, vitamin C, and calcium being most common.
• Supplement use increased significantly after diagnosis for most products.
• Use was higher among white, more educated men, those who exercise regularly, and those consuming ≥5 daily servings of fruits and vegetables.

Conclusions:

• A high proportion of men with prostate cancer use dietary supplements.
• Supplement use is associated with specific demographic (white, higher education) and lifestyle (regular exercise, healthy diet) factors.
• Systematic data collection on supplement use is needed to evaluate their impact on prostate cancer outcomes, as current evidence of benefit post-diagnosis is lacking.