Does using dietary supplements affect cancer treatment?

Vitamins A, C and D, minerals such as zinc, calcium and selenium, essential amino acids, herbal products (phytonutrients), and packaged digestive enzymes (probiotics) are some examples of dietary supplements. Many people think that dietary supplements will help them feel better while fighting an illness. However, dietary supplements used during treatment can have many unwanted effects (side effects) on our bodies. You should be aware of the possible side effects of these products. If you are currently using a dietary supplement, you should tell your doctor without delay.

Today, some patients reject modern cancer treatments and turn to alternative medicine. Yet using dietary supplements or phytotherapy products instead of current treatments harms your health. This choice greatly reduces the chance of curing or controlling your disease. The sad story of Steve Jobs, one of the founders of Apple, who was diagnosed with cancer is one of the most tragic examples of this. Although Steve Jobs could have accessed any treatment available in the world, he spent the most important period of his treatment pursuing alternative treatments, and later paid for this valuable lost time with his life.

Using dietary supplements alongside treatment is not right either. Some vitamins and other dietary supplements can interact with medicines in different ways. Sometimes they can even worsen the side effects of treatment.

In December 2019, a study published in Journal of Clinical Oncology found that patients who used vitamins, antioxidants and coenzyme Q10 during chemotherapy had a likelihood of cancer recurrence that was 41% higher. Taking vitamin B12, iron and omega-3 supplements was found to increase breast cancer recurrence.

Dietary supplements sold on the market are not regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or another agency. Likewise, they are not approved by the health agencies that approve medicines for use. Some nutritional supplements are produced and labeled in clean, controlled laboratories. However, some may not contain all the substances listed on their labels. They may even contain unlisted herbal ingredients or other substances known to be harmful.

For your safety, it is important to know which ingredients are used and at what doses. For example, the spices you use in the kitchen can be consumed safely in small amounts. Extracts sold as liquids or pills may contain excessive amounts of plant chemicals and may not be safe. Something being “all natural” does not mean it is safe. Some toxic substances in nature also occur naturally. For example, remember that poisonous mushrooms found in nature are also completely natural!

What legal regulations govern herbal products and supplements in Turkey?

In Turkey, herbal products are evaluated for preparation and marketing by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (formerly the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), under their respective legislation, through different practices. In Turkey, dietary supplements are the responsibility of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock. Under the principles implemented by this ministry, manufacturers or importers market the dietary supplements they produce and/or import with permits obtained very quickly through a considerably simplified application system.

Herbal products regulated by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock are not required to be analyzed. By contrast, the "Regulation on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products" published by the Ministry of Health on 6 October 2010 assigned the licensing of herbal medicinal products and herbal preparations made from traditionally used medicinal plants with health-protective and therapeutic effects to the Ministry of Health. Nevertheless, the current situation is not clearly divided. As a result of this legal uncertainty, a product made from a medicinal plant may be sold in pharmacies as a herbal medicine licensed by the Ministry of Health, while another product made from the same medicinal plant under the name of a dietary supplement may be sold without oversight at a retail outlet inside a large shopping center. Today, some dietary supplements can also be found in pharmacies in Turkey. However, this is far from providing complete reassurance. Since these products are essentially authorized by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, they do not fully meet the requirements for products that may be sold in pharmacies; they are sold only through an agreement between the company concerned and that pharmacy. Therefore, despite being sold in pharmacies, these products cannot be said to fully carry the required assurance of quality and efficacy.

Conclusion

During cancer treatment, there may be periods when you have difficulty eating and drinking and your nutrition is inadequate. Sometimes your illness may make it harder for nutrients to be absorbed through your digestive system, and sometimes the medicines used may change your hormonal balance. In such situations, a nutritional supplement that is needed should be used on the advice of your doctor or dietitian, or under the supervision of your medical team. However, if you have no nutritional problem, it is always best to try to get the vitamins and minerals you need from food. Obtaining all the nutrients you need naturally through an adequate, balanced diet is the healthiest approach.

*

- Vitamin D and cancer! Does deficiency cause cancer? Do high levels prevent cancer?