[Essential trace elements, vitamins, and selected electrolytes in complementary medicine for cancer patients]. / Essentielle Spurenelemente, Vitamine und ausgewählte Elektrolyte in der Komplementärmedizin für Tumorpatienten.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Are there any evidence-based medicine (EBM)-supported treatment approaches of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods for urological oncologists? METHODS: We reviewed the actual German S3 guidelines "Supportive Care" and "Complementary Medicine" as well as the online-tool Onkopedia for recommendations about essential trace elements (Zn, Se, Mn, Fe), vitamins (A, B, C, D, E), and electrolytes (Mg, Ca). Furthermore, we added results of randomized trials to present potential future developments. RESULTS: Each therapy with micronutrients should be based on laboratory observation of a deficit. There are selected guideline recommendations for selenium, iron and vitamin D. Potential indications were registered for manganese, vitamin A derivates, and vitamin C. No benefit was observed for vitamin B, zinc, and vitamin E. CONCLUSION: Micronutrients should be substituted in the case of deficit. General supplementation of daily nutrition is not recommended for cancer patients.