Positive Health Online

Abstract

TSINOVOI and COLLEAGUES, 1. a Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics , School of Public Health, Indiana University , Bloomington , Indiana , USA conducted a study to examine the associations between antioxidant supplementation and quality of life (QoL) in stage-II colorectal cancer survivors.

Background

Cancer survivors are motivated to change lifestyle following diagnosis, but studies investigating the outcomes are scarce. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between antioxidant supplementation and quality of life (QoL) in stage-II colorectal cancer survivors.

Methodology

Four-hundred-fifty-three survivors were enrolled from the North Carolina Cancer Registry from 2009 to 2011. Interview data on demography, treatment, health behaviors, and QoL were collected at diagnosis, and at 12 and 24 mo post-diagnosis. Antioxidant supplementation was self-reported as use of selenium, zinc, beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin E, or vitamin C at baseline. Two-hundred-sixty-one subjects completed the 24-mo interview.

Results

After adjusting for multiple confounders, there was no association between antioxidant use and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment-Colorectal [β = 1.41; 95% confidence interval (CI): -2.48, 5.30] or the medical outcomes 12-item short form (physical composite score: β = 0.84; 95% CI: -1.39, 3.07; mental composite score: β = -0.61; 95% CI: -2.65, 1.43).

Conclusion

This study revealed no benefit of antioxidant use among survivors, possibly explained by a limited sample size of antioxidant users. More prospective studies are necessary to assess the benefits of antioxidants.

References

Tsinovoi CL1, Xun P1, He K1. Antioxidant Supplementation Is Not Associated with Long-term Quality of Life in Stage-II Colorectal Cancer Survivors: A Follow-up of the Study of Colorectal Cancer Survivors Cohort. Nutr Cancer.;69(1): 159-166. Jan 2017. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2017.1250925. Epub 2016 Dec 8.