Diet and Nutrition (and Exercise)
See the 2012 American Cancer
Society advice on nutrition and physical activity for
here, and advice for cancer survivors for diet and
Epidemiological studies (comparing cancer rates in different parts of the world) suggest that diet plays a significant role in the development of cancer. Despite this, there is however little evidence that modifying diet will prevent cancer (a large study of low fat diets and high fiber did not lower the risk of breast, colon or other cancer, go here and here) and virtually no evidence that once cancer has developed it can be treated with dietary regimens.
been numerous studies where taking vitamin supplements increased cancer
and can interfere with the effectiveness of treatment
(go here and here).
A recent study showed no significant benefit from B vitamins in
preventing cancer in women (go here).
Another large study showed that women taking multivitamins was of
no benefit in lowering the risk of cancer (go
A recent NCI trial showed that taking a lot of multivitamins
increased the risk of dying of prostate cancer (go here).
study showed that taking folic acid may increase the risk of
advanced cancer (go
here). Also read the whole section on nutrition and herbals
in the alternative medicine section here and the section on
Vitamin Supplementation to Prevent Cancer Counseling Release Date: June 2003
Summary of Recommendations
|see "Should I take
Medline plus on vitamins,
NCCAM on Supplements