SEATTLE, Feb 1, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- A U.S. report suggested that not
enough research has been conducted into the use of vitamin and mineral
supplements among cancer survivors.
A review of scientific literature conducted by researchers at Fred Hutchinson
Cancer Research Center in Seattle published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology,
found that 64 percent to 81 percent of cancer survivors reported using vitamins
or minerals despite inconclusive evidence of any benefit.
"While supplement use may be beneficial for some patients, such as those who
cannot eat a balanced diet, research suggests that certain supplements may
actually interfere with treatment or even accelerate cancer growth," senior
author Cornelia Ulrich of the Hutchinson Center's Public Health Sciences
Division said Friday in a release.
The report found that up to 68 percent of cancer survivors who use supplements
don't tell their doctors know what they are taking. Ulrich said patients who
fail to disclose supplement use risk potential adverse effects.
"Some vitamins, such as folic acid, may be involved in cancer progression while
others, such as St. John's wort, can interfere with chemotherapy," she said.
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