The association between postdiagnosis dietary supplement use and total mortality differs by diet quality among older female cancer survivors.

backgroundDietary supplements are widely used by cancer survivors. However, health effects among older cancer survivors are unclear.

methodsWe used the Iowa Women's Health Study, a prospective cohort study with 2,118 postmenopausal women with a confirmed cancer diagnosis (1986-2002), to evaluate the association between postdiagnosis dietary supplement use assessed in 2004 and subsequent all-cause mortality. Risk of death was evaluated using multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression. We performed stratified analyses by diet quality score, dietary micronutrient intake, and perceived general health.

resultsThrough 2010, 608 deaths were identified. Approximately 85% of the cancer survivors used dietary supplements. Overall supplement use and multivitamin use were not associated with mortality. Iron supplement use was associated with 39% higher risk of death [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.09-1.77]. This association was stronger among survivors with deteriorating general health. Folic acid supplement use was associated with higher risk of death, only among survivors reporting low-quality diets (HR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.33-4.08; P interaction = 0.006). Multivitamin use and using a greater number of supplements was associated with a trend towards higher mortality only among those with poor diet quality. Using vitamin E supplements in combination with multivitamin was associated with lower risk of death only among survivors with higher dietary vitamin E intake (HR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.39-0.94; P interaction = 0.02).

conclusionsPostdiagnosis supplement use was associated with higher mortality among older female cancer survivors with poor general health and/or poor dietary intake. IMPACT: The association between postdiagnosis dietary supplement use and mortality may differ by diet quality and health status among older female cancer survivors.