An apple a day
might keep the doctor away, but men’s health supplements won’t beat back the
symptoms of prostate cancer. Those are the findings of a recently released
study whose investigators add that these supplements may sometimes even do more
harm than good.
The findings
come out of a study conducted at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia.
There researchers took a look at some 2,207 men who were treated with
intensity-modulated radiation therapy between 2001 and 2012. Of that group of
men, about 10 percent said they took supplements especially marked for “men’s
health” or “prostate health.” About half took some sort of supplement during
their treatments. The “men’s health” supplements contained a variety of
ingredients, but the most common was saw palmetto.
The study
addressed two main questions. The first related to the use of men’s health
supplements and their effect on prostate cancer. The second related to
whether these supplements might lower radiation side effects. The answer to
both questions, researchers said, was no. Researchers also noted that some
supplements may actually interfere with cancer treatments. With that in mind,
it is recommended men undergoing prostate cancer treatments speak with their
healthcare providers about any and all supplements they wish to take. Doctors
may offer some recommendations to bolster nutritional levels, but others could
lessen the impacts of treatment. It’s best to check before taking anything,
even a simple vitamin.
An estimated 220,000 American men are diagnosed
with prostate cancer each year. Some 27,000 men die from the disease annually.
While prostate cancer is often highly treatable, men are urged to go in for
routine screenings after the age of 50. Early detection can greatly improve the
odds of beating this disease. Men who do not know their personal risks for the
disease are also urged to speak with their doctors.
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