Prostate Cancer, Nutrition, And Dietary Supplements (PDQ®): Integrative, Alternative, And Complementary Therapies - Patient Information [NCI]

Introduction

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a form of treatment used in addition to (complementary) or instead of (alternative) standard treatments.

In the United States, about 1 out of every 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. It is the second most common cancer in men in the United States. CAM use among men with prostate cancer is common. Studies of why men with prostate cancer decide to use CAM show that their choice is based on medical history, beliefs about the safety and side effects of CAM compared to standard treatments, and a need to feel in control of their treatment.

CAM treatments used by men with prostate cancer include certain foods, dietary supplements, herbs, vitamins, and minerals.

Different types of studies have been done to study the use of CAM in prostate cancer. These study types include:

• Combined study: A combined study analyzes data from more than one study done on the same topic, such as the response to a dietary supplement, risk of getting cancer, or treatment of cancer. The results of a combined study are usually stronger than the results of any study by itself. A combined study is also called a meta-analysis.
• Population study: A population study looks at a group of people who are part of the general population and share a common characteristic, such as age, sex, or health condition. This group of people may be studied for different reasons, such as their response to a dietary supplement or risk of getting cancer. A population study is also called an epidemiologic study.
• Clinical trial: A clinical trial looks at how well new medical approaches work in people. These studies may test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of cancer. Clinical trials with a small number of people or when the treatment is not randomly assigned are not included in this summary. See the clinical trial sections of the health professional version of Prostate Cancer, Nutrition, and Dietary Supplements for information on clinical trials done using nutrients or supplements.
• Laboratory and animal studies: In laboratory studies, a substance is tested in tumor cells to find out if it has any anticancer effects. In animal studies, a drug, procedure, or treatment is tested in mice or other animals to see if it is safe and effective. Laboratory and animal studies are done before a substance is tested in people.

CAM treatments have been studied to see if their use lowers the risk of prostate cancer, kills prostate cancer cells, or lowers the risk that cancer will come back after treatment. Most of these studies used prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels to find out whether the treatment worked. This is a weaker measure of how well the treatment works than direct measures, such as fewer new cases of prostate cancer, or smaller tumor size or lower rate of recurrence after treatment for prostate cancer.

This PDQ summary has sections about the use of specific foods and dietary supplements to prevent or treat prostate cancer:

• Calcium
• Green Tea
• Lycopene
• Modified Citrus Pectin
• Pomegranate
• Selenium
• Soy
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E
• Combination Therapies
• Other Prostate Health Supplements

Each section includes the following information for each food or dietary supplement:

• How it is given or taken.
• Results of studies done in people.
• Side effects or risks.
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA) information.