Dietary Supplements

Dietary supplements are ingestible products that contain ingredients that are intended to add nutritional value to the diet. Dietary supplements may be one or a combination of vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, metabolites, extract, or a substance to increase the total dietary intake. They come in a variety of forms, including tablets, capsules, liquids, or powders.¹

Lung cancer and dietary supplements

Nutrition is critical for cellular support and healing. The treatment for lung cancer can often overwhelm a person's nutritional reserve. Lung cancer and its treatment may affect appetite, digestion, and how the body uses nutrients.²

Many people with lung cancer experience loss of appetite and unintentional weight loss, which can lead to malnutrition. In medical terms, appetite loss is known as anorexia, and the weakness that comes from malnutrition is called cachexia.^3-5

Research shows that about 50 percent of people with cancer experience anorexia and cachexia. And at the time of diagnosis, about 60 percent of people with lung cancer have experienced significant weight loss. When these symptoms occur together in people with cancer, it is known as anorexia-cachexia syndrome (CACS).^3-5

CACS can cause additional complications in people with lung cancer and impact their quality of life. Research shows that malnutrition (cachexia) is the main cause of death in more than 20 percent of people with cancer. Dietary supplements can help ensure that people with cancer receive essential nutrients and maintain a healthy weight.^3-5

Benefits of dietary supplements for people with lung cancer

Good nutrition during cancer treatment can help improve quality of life and decrease the side effects and complications from treatment. When a person with lung cancer is experiencing malnutrition due to their cancer or its treatment, dietary supplements can provide nutrients that are necessary for healing and maintaining a proper weight.²

Recommendations for dietary supplements should be tailored to each person's specific needs. Physicians or dietitians can provide recommendations after completing an assessment of a person's nutritional intake and any imbalances that are present. These needs may change throughout the course of the disease and its treatment.^1,2

Some common dietary supplements used by people with lung cancer:⁶

• Probiotics, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, which may improve digestion and immune health
• Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish oil, potentially help reduce inflammation and enhance immunity
• Melatonin, which may improve sleep and support immune health

Talk to your doctor before taking any dietary supplements since some may interfere with treatment and/or cause unsafe side effects. You should also talk to your doctor about any other medications, herbal remedies, and any existing supplements they are taking, as well as any other health conditions.⁶

Finding your individualized plan

Research suggests that diet is responsible for roughly 30 percent of all cancers, and many studies suggest that diet plays a contributing role in the risk of lung cancer. In particular, low concentrations of antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, and E, have been linked to the development of lung cancer. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables has been linked to a decreased risk of cancer.⁷

What the research shows

Several studies have shown an increased risk of lung cancer among smokers who use high doses of beta-carotene supplements long-term. In normal, healthy, nonsmokers, beta-carotene supplements show a beneficial effect. However, smokers taking beta-carotene have developed more lung cancer tumors than those not taking the supplement.⁸