Complementary Nutrition and Supplement Use in Oncology: Enhancing Outcomes or Complicating Care? A Comprehensive Review

Cancer patients are increasingly using nutritional supplements, which raises questions about safety as well as possible advantages. This review looks at the functions of vitamins, probiotics, polyphenols, and immune-boosting foods in cancer treatment. Certain supplements can enhance treatment results, lower inflammation, or boost the immune system, but others might be harmful, particularly if taken unsupervised. Their safe usage is complicated by interactions with chemotherapeutic medicines, variations in supplement formulations, and individual variances (e.g. gut microbiota, genetics). Clinical application is further restricted by varied study designs and a lack of established protocols. In order to make sure supplements help cancer treatment rather than impede it, this study highlights the need for patient-provider communication, individualized approaches, and more thorough research.