title: Micronutrients in Oncological Intervention.
abstract: Nutritional supplements are widely used among patients with cancer who perceive them to be anticancer and antitoxicity agents. Depending on the type of malignancy and the gender 30%-90% of the cancer patients supplement their diets with antioxidant and immuno-stabilizing micronutrients, such as selenium, vitamin C, and vitamin D, often without the knowledge of the treating physician. From the oncological viewpoint, there are justifiable concerns that dietary supplements decrease the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Recent studies, however, have provided increasing evidence that treatment is tolerated better-with an increase in patient compliance and a lower rate of treatment discontinuations-when micronutrients, such as selenium, are added as appropriate to the patient's medication. Nutritional supplementation tailored to an individual's background diet, genetics, tumor histology, and treatments may yield benefits in subsets of patients. Clinicians should have an open dialogue with patients about nutritional supplements. Supplement advice needs to be individualized and come from a credible source, and it is best communicated by the physician.
authors.affiliation: Akademie für Mikronährstoffmedizin, Essen, Zweigertstrasse 55, 45130 Essen, Germany. uwegroeber@gmx.net.
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gröber
authors.affiliation: Akademie für Mikronährstoffmedizin, Essen, Zweigertstrasse 55, 45130 Essen, Germany. p.holzhauer@ioz-muenchen.de.|Interdisziplinäres onkologisches Zentrum (IOZ), München, Nußbaumstrasse 12, München 80336, Germany. p.holzhauer@ioz-muenchen.de.|Klinik Bad Trissl, Innere Medizin II-Onkologie und Komplementärmedizin, Oberaudorf 83080, Germany. p.holzhauer@ioz-muenchen.de.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Holzhauer
authors.affiliation: Akademie für Mikronährstoffmedizin, Essen, Zweigertstrasse 55, 45130 Essen, Germany. klaus.kisters@annahospital.de.|St. Anna Hospital, Medizinische Klinik I, Herne, Hospitalstrasse 19, Herne 44649, Germany. klaus.kisters@annahospital.de.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kisters
authors.affiliation: Boston University Medical Center, 85 East Newton Street M-1033, Boston, MA 02118, USA. mfholick@bu.edu.
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Holick
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Strahlentherapie und Radio-Onkologie, Ruhr Universität Bochum (RUB), Hölkeskampring 40, Herne 44625, Germany. irenaeus.adamietz@elisabethgruppe.de.
authors.forename: Irenäus A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Adamietz
mesh_terms: D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D065840:Protective Factors; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients
keywords: ">l-carnitine; Micronutrients; antioxidants; cancer; chemotherapy; radiotherapy; selenium; treatment related side effects; vitamin C; vitamin D