The prevalence of dietary-related complementary and alternative therapies and their perceived usefulness among cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
The present study aimed to directly assess and compare the usage, benefits and side-effects of dietary-related complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among adult cancer patients and non-cancer adults in Norwich, UK.


METHODS
Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 98 cancer patients and 92 non-cancer adults to compare demographics, types of CAM usage with reasons, benefits, side-effects and CAM information sources. The groups were matched for gender, age, marital status, education and household income. The mean ages were 62.7 and 59.7 years, respectively, with slightly more female than male participants.


RESULTS
CAM use was high in both groups (47% in cancer and 53% in non-cancer respondents, P > 0.05). The most widely-used diet-related CAM among both groups was the large intake of fruit, vegetables and juice, multivitamins, fish oils and glucosamine. Fish oil intake was significantly higher in the non-cancer group (P < 0.05), whereas selenium and beta-carotene supplements were significantly higher in the cancer group (P < 0.01 and P = 0.02, respectively). The main reasons for using CAM were to boost the immune system and to improve quality of life (P > 0.05). Reported benefits included increased optimism and hope for the cancer group and increased optimism and pain relief for the non-cancer group.


CONCLUSIONS
Diet-related CAM is used frequently by both cancer patients and non-cancer adults, with many reported benefits and few reported side-effects. Significant differences between the groups included a higher prevalence of fish oil used by the non-cancer group, and a higher use of selenium and beta-carotene supplements in the cancer group.
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, UK. esmarie.vantonder@nnuh.nhs.uk
E
E
van Tonder
M G
MG
Herselman
J
J
Visser
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D055951:Functional Food; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000178:diet therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012016:Reference Values; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
D018977:Micronutrients