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Safety of dietary supplements use among patients with cancer: A systematic review

Zhen Zeng1, Ahmed Ullah Mishuk2, Jingjing Qian2

  • 1Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China.

Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
|June 23, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Most dietary supplements (DS) appear safe for cancer patients, including those undergoing chemotherapy. Regular evaluation of DS safety in clinical trials is recommended for better patient care.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Patients with cancer frequently use dietary supplements (DS).
  • The safety of DS use in cancer patients is not well-established.
  • Evidence-based guidelines for DS use in oncology are lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the safety of dietary supplements used by cancer patients.
  • To identify the types and safety profiles of DS evaluated in clinical trials.
  • To inform clinical practice regarding DS use in cancer care.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature search of PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and Alt HealthWatch databases.
  • Inclusion criteria: clinical trials involving cancer patients, DS interventions, safety endpoints, and English language publication.
  • Sixty-five studies evaluating 20 different DS across 12 cancer types were included.

Main Results:

  • Botanical DS, vitamins, and probiotics/synbiotics were the most frequently studied DS types.
  • The majority of evaluated DS demonstrated a good safety profile in cancer patients.
  • In trials involving chemotherapy patients, most DS (e.g., vitamins, botanicals, omega-3 fatty acids) were found to be safe.

Conclusions:

  • Most dietary supplements appear safe for patients with cancer.
  • Regular incorporation of DS safety evaluations into clinical trials is crucial.
  • Further research is needed to establish comprehensive safety guidelines for DS in oncology.
Keywords:
CancerDietary supplementsSafetySystematic review

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