The Journal of the National Cancer Institute published results of a complete meta-analysis looking into the efficacy of nutritional supplementation and dietary modifications in patients undergoing treatment for cancer and pre-cancerous conditions. The conclusion drawn by the authors state no "benefit or harm" was gained from the nutritional treatment of cancer patients. They were looking at the effect on all-mortality of the cancer or pre-cancerous lesion and faied to see the true benefits of alternative treatment.
Nutritional supplementation and diet modification has one primary goal for patients undergoing treatment for cancer: improve wellness, maintain quality of life, and support the bodies innate processes. Not all providers who recommend nutritional supplementation or diet changes for patients with cancer even come close to suggesting that they will cure or help cure their ailment.
On the contrary, complementary and alternative providers often recommend high intake of many vitamins and minerals to help replenish the body from the havoc that is reaked upon it during treatment. Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation destroy millions of cells in the body and slow new growth of cells, especially in organs such as the intestines that are integral in absorption of the basic nutrients needed for survival. Treatments also generate free radicals that help to destroy the cancer but also indirectly damage healthy cells, so antioxidant supplementation helps to prevent damage to healthy tissue.
Cancer patients who use alternative treatments as part of their regimen will express increased energy, better recovery, and greater quality of life than equal counterparts that do not try to maximize intake of essential vitamins and minerals. There are also several herbal treatments that have proven to increase effectiveness of chemotherapy by supporting the bodies innate cancer fighting ability while helping to prevent new growth.
Perhaps the authors of the study were not able to extrapolate this information from the studies included in their review. Or perhaps they were trying to avoid finding the true evidence that supports use of nutritional supplementation during cancer treatment.
It is also disturbing that they would publish a complete paper based on an analysis of trials that they considered "to be of poor scientific value".
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on July 31, 2006 03:13 PM
