Display Settings:

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

    Nutr Cancer. 2001;41(1-2):29-32.

    Vitamin/mineral supplementation among cancer survivors: 1987 and 1992 National Health Interview Surveys.

    McDavid K, Breslow RA, Radimer K.

    Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, USA. kzm2@cdc.gov

    The number of cancer survivors in the United States is increasing, but little is known about this population, including its use of vitamin/mineral supplements. We combined data on vitamin/mineral use from the 1987 and 1992 National Health Interview Survey Cancer Epidemiology Supplement (CES) for cancer survivors: persons reporting a diagnosis of cancer other than nonmelanoma skin cancer > 5 yr before their interviews [n = 461 (1987) and 228 (1992)] and persons reporting no history of cancer [n = 20,851 (1987) and 11,186 (1992)]. For both groups, we calculated gender-specific proportions (adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, education, smoking status, and poverty index) for use of multivitamins, vitamins A, C, and E, and calcium during the year before each survey. Supplement use was similar in survivors and persons reporting no history of cancer. Among survivors, calcium use was significantly higher among women (34.9%) than men (13.8%), and vitamin A use was higher among men than women (P < 0.05). Over three-fourths of both groups used multivitamins, and about one-half used vitamin C. No differences were found in vitamin/mineral use between male survivors and men with no cancer history or between female survivors and women with no cancer history. These first nationally representative estimates suggest that persons who have survived cancer and those who report that they never had the disease do not differ appreciably in their use of vitamin/mineral supplements. Results were based on small numbers of survivors, however, and require replication.

    PMID: 12094625 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

    Supplemental Content

    Patient drug information

    • Ascorbic Acid (Cecon® Drops, Cenolate®, Cevi-Bid®, ...)

      Ascorbic acid is used to prevent and treat scurvy, a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C in the body.

    • Multivitamins

      Vitamins are natural substances that your body needs to grow, develop, and function normally. Vitamins are contained in food; a well-balanced diet usually provides all of the vitamins required. However, there are times, ...