ASPO Abstracts
Use of Dietary Supplements by Breast Cancer Survivors
Category: Survivorship & Health Outcomes/Comparative Effectiveness Research
Conference Year: 2021
Abstract Body:
PURPOSE: To identify natural product (e.g. fish oil), vitamin, or mineral dietary supplements
(DS) in current use by breast cancer (BC) survivors. METHODS: An online survey was
developed to self-report current DS use; breast cancer history, including concurrent treatments;
and primary influences on DS choice. Recruitment focused on social media advertising.
RESULTS: The majority of participants completing the survey to date (N=1,224) were non-
Hispanic Caucasian (87.9%) females (100%) living in the US (96.5%), 62 +/- 10 years of age,
with an average age at diagnosis of 57 +/- 11 years. Estrogen receptor and/or progesterone
receptor-positive (ER+/PR+) tumors were the most commonly reported subtype (64.5%). At the
time of the study, 72.2% of participants were undergoing active breast cancer treatment, with
anti-estrogen hormone therapy (HT) being the most common (53.7%). Vitamin and/or mineral
(VM) DS use was reported by 80.8%. Among those reporting VM DS use, vitamin D (83.9%),
calcium (55.1%), multivitamin (47.4%), and vitamin C (34.8%) were the most prevalent. Health
care providers (HCP) were a primary source of information for VM DS use (e.g. 89.0% of
calcium users took it based on HCP recommendations). Natural product (NP) DS use was
reported by 65.5%. Among these women, probiotics (31.8%), turmeric (29.2%), fish oil/omega-
3 (28.2%), melatonin (25.6%), and cannabis (21.6%) were the most prevalent. Primary sources
of information for NP DS use varied. For instance, for turmeric, family/friends or internet/social
media were primary sources (48.5%). DS use was 1.4- to 2.3-fold higher for all noted top DS in
women with ER+/PR+ tumors (p<0.01), and trended higher for most DS among current HT
users, reaching significance for vitamin D or calcium (1.7- or 2.0-fold higher, respectively,
p<0.001). Phytoestrogen use was rare (2.0%). CONCLUSIONS: While vitamin/mineral DS use
was primarily driven by HCP recommendations, NP DS use by BC survivors was often based
on recommendations of family, friends, and social media, with a prevalence 3-fold higher than
for US adults. Because risks and benefits of NP DS are not well described and drug interactions
are possible, open lines of communication between survivors and HCP about DS use is
essential. Funding: UA Honors College
Keywords: breast cancer, dietary supplements