Supplements and cancer
Find out the link between supplements and cancer.
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Supplements are products that contain added nutrients, such as vitamins or minerals. People take them alongside their usual diet. They can be taken in forms like tablets, capsules, liquids, powders or gummies.
Dietary supplements usually refer to vitamins or minerals which can also be found in foods. However, they may include other components of foods, such as:
- natural plant chemicals like polyphenols
- lycopene found in tomatoes
- herbs and plant materials such as ginseng, garlic and green tea
Dietary supplements are often in doses that are a lot higher than what can be absorbed from foods in a typical diet.
Are fortified foods the same as supplements?
Fortified foods and supplements are not the same.
Fortified foods have nutrients added during production, such as calcium added to plant milks and tofu. They help you meet your nutrient needs as part of your diet.
Supplements are concentrated sources of nutrients taken separately, usually as tablets or capsules.
Some people may benefit from fortified foods. For example, people following a vegan diet may choose calcium-fortified products to help meet their needs.
Can supplements prevent cancer?
We do not recommend that you take supplements to prevent cancer.
For most people, eating a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of fruit, vegetables, pulses and wholegrains is the best way to reduce cancer risk and meet nutrient needs.
Whole foods provide more than vitamins and minerals. They also contain fibre and other nutrients that support bowel health and help maintain a healthy weight.
Our recommendation: Do not use supplements for cancer prevention.
Do calcium supplements affect cancer risk?
Some evidence suggests calcium supplements may help protect against bowel cancer. However, it is best to get calcium from food.
Good sources include leafy greens (like kale and okra), dairy foods (like milk, cheese and yoghurt), fish with bones (like sardines and pilchards) and calcium-fortified foods (like plant milks and tofu).
Can supplements cause cancer?
Some supplements give you a much higher dose of nutrients than you would normally get from eating food alone. In some cases, these high doses can be harmful.
World Cancer Research Fund has strong evidence to show that high-dose beta-carotene supplements can increase the risk of lung cancer in people who smoke or used to smoke. There’s no evidence they affect people who have never smoked.
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Who may benefit from taking a supplement?
Most people can get the nutrients they need by eating a healthy, balanced diet.
Certain people may benefit from taking certain supplements for their health, such as:
- Women who can become pregnant and pregnant women
- People following a vegan diet
- People with darker skin or who get little sun exposure
- Children under 5
- Older adults
Your GP or a Registered Dietitian may recommend supplements such as vitamin D, folic acid or vitamin B12, depending on your needs. Speak to them if you are unsure.
Different countries may have different guidance. For information in the UK, visit the NHS website.
For researchers and scientists
One of World Cancer Research Fund’s Cancer Prevention Recommendation is to not use supplements for cancer prevention. Aim to meet nutritional needs through diet alone and avoid supplement use.
Our 2018 Diet and Cancer Report found strong evidence that:
- consuming high-dose beta-carotene supplements INCREASES the risk of lung cancer (in people who smoke or used to smoke tobacco)
- consuming beta-carotene in foods or supplements is unlikely to have substantial effect on the risk of prostate cancer
- consuming beta-carotene in supplements is unlikely to have substantial effect on the risk of skin cancer (non-melanoma)
- consuming calcium supplements DECREASES the risk of colorectal cancer. However, overall, it’s best to eat a healthy diet rather than rely on dietary supplements to protect against cancer.
For high-dose beta-carotene supplements and calcium supplements, conclusions can be drawn only for the doses that were investigated.
Page last reviewed: June 2026
Next review: June 2029
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References
- World Cancer Research Fund/ American Institute for Cancer Research. Other dietary exposures and the risk of cancer [Internet]. 2018. Available from: https://www.wcrf.org/research-policy/library/other-dietary-exposures/
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