Questionable methods of cancer management: 'nutritional' therapies.
Although dietary measures may be helpful in preventing certain cancers, there is no scientific evidence that any nutritionally related regimen is appropriate as a primary treatment for cancer. This paper focuses on seven questionable modalities: vitamin C, pau d'arco tea, the Gerson diet, Hoxsey herbal therapy, the macrobiotic diet, Manner metabolic therapy, and Kelley metabolic therapy. Some of these approaches involve a diet that is nutritionally inadequate. Some involve potentially toxic doses of vitamins and/or other substances. Some are quite expensive. All pose the risk that patients who use them will abandon effective treatment. The American Cancer Society therefore recommends that "nutritional cancer cures" be avoided.
D000529:Complementary Therapies; D006801:Humans; D008660:Metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena