Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine

Title abbreviation: Adv Clin Exp Med
JCR Impact Factor (IF) – 1.736
5-Year Impact Factor – 2.135
Index Copernicus  – 168.52
MEiN – 70 pts

ISSN 1899–5276 (print)
ISSN 2451-2680 (online)
Periodicity – monthly

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Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine

2018, vol. 27, nr 10, October, p. 1365–1369

doi: 10.17219/acem/70030

Publication type: original article

Language: English

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The use of antioxidant vitamin supplements among oncological patients

Anna Mandecka1,A,E,F, Anna Czekajło1,B,C,D, Malwina Goździk2,B,C,D, Dorota Różańska1,A,E,F, Tomasz Kłaniewski3,F, Andrzej Szuba3,4,F, Bożena Regulska-Ilow1,E,F

1 Department of Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland

2 Students Scientific Club, Department of Dietetics, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland

3 Department of Internal Medicine, 4th Military Hospital in Wroclaw, Poland

4 Department of Angiology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland

Abstract

Background. Dietary supplementation is becoming more and more common among both healthy and unhealthy people. The use of supplements is often unjustified, though in some groups of patients it is a necessary management for providing the required vitamins and minerals.
Objectives. The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of using antioxidant vitamin supplements (A, C and E) among the patients of the oncology ward.
Material and Methods. The study group included 78 patients aged 19–83 years. The dietary intake of vitamins as well as the intake of supplements was assessed based on the data from the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ).
Results. It was observed that 46.2% of patients used some kind of a dietary supplement and 77.8% of them used antioxidant vitamins. Among those taking vitamin A, C or E supplements, 72.2% of women and 80% of men used multivitamins. It was reported that the average fulfillment of the recommended daily intake for vitamin A was 303 ±136%, for vitamin C it was 282 ±166% and for vitamin E it was 199 ±80%. More than 25% of the patients whose diets contained at least the same level of vitamins as dietary recommendations were using antioxidant vitamin supplements at the same time.
Conclusion. Although the average dietary intake of antioxidant vitamins among the patients was not insufficient, the use of dietary supplements in different forms was common in our study. The results of other studies concerning the safety of using dietary supplements by cancer patients are not conclusive. Dietary supplementation in oncological patients should always be used after a medical consultation with a doctor and a dietician.

Key words

cancer, oxidative stress, antioxidant vitamins, supplementation

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