What the evidence says about supplements and cancer prevention
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Research shows that many common dietary supplements offer little proven benefit for cancer prevention, and in some cases may even increase cancer risk. Certain supplements may interact with therapy, affect how medications work, or pose added risks in specific populations. Another important issue is that supplements do not go through the same FDA approval process required for prescription medications, which means their safety, effectiveness, and quality are not evaluated in the same way before they reach the market. For that reason, while many supplements are generally safe, oncologists recommend using them thoughtfully and discussing them with a physician.
Source
Jabbari P, Yazdanpanah O, Benjamin DJ, Rezazadeh Kalebasty A. Supplement Use and Increased Risks of Cancer: Unveiling the Other Side of the Coin. Cancers (Basel). 2024 Feb 22;16(5):880. doi: 10.3390/cancers16050880. PMID: 38473246; PMCID: PMC10930792.
Additional Reading
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2026/02/02/can-supplements-reduce-cancer-risk/
https://www.fredhutch.org/en/news/center-news/2026/02/dietary-supplements-dont-prevent-cancer.html
https://hartfordhospital.org/about-hh/news-center/news-detail?articleId=66335