“Should I take certain vitamins or supplements after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer? Which ones?”

It's important to keep up your intake of protein and calories to sustain your immune system. Beyond that, no specific vitamin, enzyme, or mineral supplement has been shown to improve your outlook. If you have developed pancreatic enzyme insufficiency from your cancer (rare), your doctor might wish to give you enzymes to help in digestion, but this is not usually of value.

Best wishes to you in this fight!

James J. Stark, MD, FACP

Vitamin D deficiency in epidemiological studies has worsened outcomes in cancer so it is reasonable to supplement it. 2000 u/day is safe, but clear this with your primary physician. The other vitamins are problematical. In tissue culture, s-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) shuts down cancer genes but although this is available as a supplement, it has never entered clinical trial so we don't know if it would work with cancer patients.

Hi ,

Did you get respected for this pancreatic cancer? If so, all the vitamins can be part of your meals assuming you are on regular diet. I do not believe in vitamin supplements. Meals are more completed and you can integrate your meals with ensure which provides 320 calories per can.
Please let me know
Thank you.

The answer depends on the stage regimen treating oncologist and your nutritional status. Answer should be personalized

Vitamin replacement to normal is recommende for Breakfast 12 D3 folic acid
Maybe a superdose of the reduced folate.w chem

Other vitamins avoid pyridoxine and E

C is complicated. AACR 2017 high doses can protect with specific not all chemo
Suitable advanced disease but not for adjuvant therapy after resection
Level of evidence expert hands safety is reasonable phase 2
But for efficacy very complex lab and Anecdotes needs personalized consideration
Suitable when side effects a problem sometimes

Re neutroceuticals must check each one for drug interaction some cats claw negate chemo drug

Gain weight protein low fat
You are doing something wrong if you lose weight
Insulin diabetics need specialist
Not insulin potentiators
Pancreatic enzymes creon

Personalize Details really make a difference
Your Dr must know what you want to take
It is possible to make bad mistKes

Some patients with pancreatic cancer have deficiencies in the enzymes that are released by the pancreas to digest food. If your doctor diagnoses an enzyme deficiency, he or she may prescribe replacement pancreatic enzymes.

There are no general recommendations for pancreatic cancer patients to take extra vitamins or supplements unless there is a deficiency. Some vitamins and supplements interact with cancer treatments, so if you would like to take other vitamins or supplements, please discuss them specifically with your oncologist.

Also, Vitamin D3 5000-10,000 IU daily.


Michael J. Dattoli, MD