Natural Products for Cancer Prevention: Clinical Update 2016

Objectives To present a clinical update of natural products for cancer prevention and provide oncology nurses with an evidence-based review of natural products for patient counseling and education. Data Sources Clinical trials published in PubMed. Conclusion In the past 4 years since the publication of the original review there have been minimal changes in the conclusions of the published literature on the use of natural products for cancer prevention. To date, clinical trials have not demonstrated conclusive benefit of using natural products for cancer prevention, and current guidelines do not recommend their use. This review provides an update on published and ongoing trials and can serve as an updated resource for nurses. Evidence-based natural products databases can help nurses stay current with the scientific literature and be effective educators and health coaches for their patients, who can be influenced by marketing of unregulated products. Implications for Nursing Practice Patients often discuss the use of natural products with nurses. Nurses have an opportunity to educate and coach patients in effective preventive lifestyle practices.