Condition

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a disease in which breast cells grow out of control, often fueled by hormones such as estrogen. Among supplements, vitamin D has drawn the most attention, and in one small trial of women starting aromatase-inhibitor treatment, joint pain improved. That study included only 60 women, so the evidence is limited and needs larger trials to confirm it.

Sources: PMID 19655244

Supplements studied: 15
Medicines and peptides: 2
Graded outcomes: 24
Trials: 18
People studied: 13,466

Evidence by supplement

Strong
Moderate
Limited
Very limited

15 supplements

Laughter

Laughter: outcomes studied for Breast Cancer
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Anxiety Symptoms Large Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Large effect		128 people
	Depression Symptoms Large Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Large effect		304 people
	Stress Signs and Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	177 people
Studies that measured stress signs and symptoms The Efficacy of Laughter Therapy on Psychological Symptoms in People With Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Studies.Psychooncology · PMID 39472305

Black Cohosh

Black Cohosh: outcomes studied for Breast Cancer
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Menopausal Symptoms Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	12 studies	135 people
Studies that measured menopausal symptoms Review & meta-analysis: isopropanolic black cohosh extract iCR for menopausal symptoms - an update on the evidence.Climacteric · PMID 33021111 [Efficacy and safety of remifemin compared to tibolone for controlling of perimenopausal symptoms]Zhonghua Fu Chan Ke Za Zhi · PMID 20003788 Safety and efficacy of black cohosh and red clover for the management of vasomotor symptoms: a randomized controlled trialMenopause · PMID 19609225 and 9 more on the Black Cohosh page
	Breast Density No effect		NoneNo effect	1 study	65 people
Studies that measured breast density Digitized assessment of mammographic breast density--effects of continuous combined hormone therapy, tibolone and black cohosh compared to placeboMaturitas · PMID 21958943

Calendula Officinalis

Dermatitis Risk: improves
Itching: improves
Pain: changes; see studies

Calendula Officinalis: outcomes studied for Breast Cancer
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Dermatitis Risk Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	3 studies	756 people
Studies that measured dermatitis risk No differences between Calendula cream and aqueous cream in the prevention of acute radiation skin reactions--results from a randomised blinded trial.Eur J Oncol Nurs · PMID 23245940 Phase III randomized trial of Calendula officinalis compared with trolamine for the prevention of acute dermatitis during irradiation for breast cancer.J Clin Oncol · PMID 15084618 Use of calendula ointment after episiotomy: a randomized clinical trial.J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med · PMID 32460565
	Itching	Improves (the measure goes up)			420 people
	Pain	Changes; see studies			420 people

Vitamin D

Aromatase-Inhibitor Related Joint Pain: improves
Breast Cancer Risk: changes; see studies

Vitamin D: outcomes studied for Breast Cancer
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Aromatase-Inhibitor Related Joint Pain Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	1 study	60 people
Studies that measured aromatase-inhibitor related joint pain Effect of vitamin D supplementation on serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels, joint pain, and fatigue in women starting adjuvant letrozole treatment for breast cancerBreast Cancer Res Treat · PMID 19655244
	Breast Cancer Risk	Changes; see studies		2 studies	3,861 people
Studies that measured breast cancer risk Vitamin D and prevention of breast cancer: pooled analysisJ Steroid Biochem Mol Biol · PMID 17368188 Association between plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D and breast cancer riskCancer Prev Res · PMID 19470790

Reishi

Anxiety Symptoms: improves
Depression Symptoms: improves
Fatigue Symptoms: improves

Reishi: outcomes studied for Breast Cancer
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Anxiety Symptoms Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	1 study	48 people
Studies that measured anxiety symptoms Spore Powder of Ganoderma lucidum Improves Cancer-Related Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Endocrine Therapy: A Pilot Clinical TrialEvid Based Complement Alternat Med · PMID 22203880
	Depression Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)			48 people
	Fatigue Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)			48 people
	Subjective Well-Being	Improves (the measure goes up)			48 people
	TNF-Alpha	Improves (the measure goes down)			48 people

Turkey tail mushroom

Lymphocyte Count: improves
Natural Killer Cell Activity
Natural Killer Cell Content: improves

Turkey tail mushroom: outcomes studied for Breast Cancer
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Lymphocyte Count Moderate Increase	Improves (the measure goes up)	Moderate effect		9 people
	Natural Killer Cell Activity No effect		NoneNo effect	1 study	9 people
Studies that measured natural killer cell activity Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Trametes versicolor in Women with Breast CancerISRN Oncol · PMID 22701186
	Natural Killer Cell Content	Improves (the measure goes up)			9 people

DIM

SHBG Levels: improves
Tamoxifen Metabolism: improves

DIM: outcomes studied for Breast Cancer
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	SHBG Levels Increased SHBG suggesting favorable hormone environment	Improves (the measure goes up)	Moderate effect		130 people
	Tamoxifen Metabolism CONCERNING: Reduced endoxifen and tamoxifen metabolites - may reduce efficacy	Improves (the measure goes down)	Moderate effect		130 people

Sulforaphane

Cell Proliferation Markers: improves
HDAC Activity: improves

Sulforaphane: outcomes studied for Breast Cancer
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Cell Proliferation Markers Reduced Ki-67 expression and cell proliferation in early-stage	Improves (the measure goes down)	Moderate effect		60 people
	HDAC Activity Decreased histone deacetylase activity	Improves (the measure goes down)	Moderate effect		40 people

Calcium-D-Glucarate

Cancer Prevention (Preclinical): improves

Calcium-D-Glucarate: outcomes studied for Breast Cancer
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Cancer Prevention (Preclinical) In rodent models, dietary calcium D-glucarate (typically 4% of diet, equivalent to very high human doses) reduced tumor incidence across multiple cancer types including mammary, lung, skin, liver, and colon tumors induced by chemical carcinogens such as DMBA, benzo[a]pyrene, and diethylnitrosamine. No human clinical trials have been conducted.	Improves (the measure goes down)	Moderate effect	8 studies
Studies that measured cancer prevention (preclinical) Dietary D-glucarate effects on the biomarkers of inflammation during early post-initiation stages of benzo[a]pyrene-induced lung tumorigenesis in A/J miceOncology Letters · 2011 · PMID 22870144 Calcium glucarate prevents tumor formation in mouse skinBiomedical and Environmental Sciences · 2003 · PMID 12747003 Calcium-D-glucarateAlternative Medicine Review · 2002 · PMID 12197785 and 5 more on the Calcium-D-Glucarate page

Naringenin

Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation: changes; see studies

Naringenin: outcomes studied for Breast Cancer
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation Naringenin and other citrus flavonoids inhibited human breast cancer cell proliferation in vitro, with IC50 values of 5.9-140 microg/mL. Combined flavonoids showed synergistic effects. In rats, citrus juice delayed mammary tumorigenesis after carcinogen exposure (PMID 8875554). A separate review noted anti-mammary cancer potential of citrus flavonoids (PMID 9781306). All evidence is preclinical.	Changes; see studies	Small effect	3 studies
Studies that measured breast cancer cell proliferation A Review on Pharmacological and Analytical Aspects of NaringeninChinese Journal of Integrative Medicine · 2018 · PMID 25501296 Inhibition of mammary cancer by citrus flavonoidsAdvances in Experimental Medicine and Biology · 1998 · PMID 9781306 Inhibition of human breast cancer cell proliferation and delay of mammary tumorigenesis by flavonoids and citrus juicesNutrition and Cancer · 1996 · PMID 8875554

Grape Seed Extract

Estrogen
Testosterone: improves

Grape Seed Extract: outcomes studied for Breast Cancer
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Estrogen No effect		NoneNo effect	1 study	46 people
Studies that measured estrogen Grape seed extract is an aromatase inhibitor and a suppressor of aromatase expressionCancer Res · PMID 16740737
	Testosterone	Improves (the measure goes up)			46 people

Melatonin

Breast Cancer Risk
IGF-1: improves
Estrogen: changes; see studies

Melatonin: outcomes studied for Breast Cancer
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Breast Cancer Risk No effect		NoneNo effect	1 study	863 people
Studies that measured breast cancer risk Urinary 6-Sulphatoxymelatonin levels and risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women: the ORDET cohortCancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev · PMID 20200429
	IGF-1	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	86 people
Studies that measured igf-1 A randomized controlled trial of oral melatonin supplementation and breast cancer biomarkersCancer Causes Control · PMID 22370698
	Estrogen	Changes; see studies			86 people

Red Clover Extract

Breast Density
Menopausal Symptoms: improves
Hot Flash Symptoms: improves

Red Clover Extract: outcomes studied for Breast Cancer
Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
Breast Density No effect		NoneNo effect		177 people
Menopausal Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		5 studies	177 people
Hot Flash Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	177 people
Estrogen	Changes; see studies			177 people
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone	Improves (the measure goes up)			177 people
Luteinizing Hormone	Improves (the measure goes up)			177 people

Saffron

Depression Symptoms: improves

Saffron: outcomes studied for Breast Cancer
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Depression Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		18 studies	62 people

Resveratrol

DNA methylation: changes; see studies

Resveratrol: outcomes studied for Breast Cancer
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	DNA methylation	Changes; see studies		1 study	39 people

Prescription medicines and peptides studied, for context

These are not supplements. Most need a prescription, and some are research compounds with no approved use. They are listed so the supplement evidence above can be read against them.

2 medicines and peptides

Goserelin (Zoladex)

Disease Control (Breast): improves
Ovarian Function Suppression: improves
Estrogen Suppression: improves

Goserelin (Zoladex): outcomes studied for Breast Cancer
Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies
Disease Control (Breast) Effective for HR-positive breast cancer. Monthly and 3-monthly formulations show equivalent efficacy.	Improves (the measure goes up)	Moderate effect	18 studies
Ovarian Function Suppression Preferred option for OFS in premenopausal breast cancer. Established safety profile in clinical trials.	Improves (the measure goes down)	Large effect	8 studies
Estrogen Suppression Achieves effective estrogen suppression in premenopausal women for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.	Improves (the measure goes down)	Large effect	7 studies

Triptorelin (Trelstar)

Disease-Free Survival (Breast): improves
Ovarian Function Suppression: improves
Ovarian Preservation: improves

Triptorelin (Trelstar): outcomes studied for Breast Cancer
Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies
Disease-Free Survival (Breast) SOFT/TEXT trials showed OFS plus tamoxifen provides significant DFS benefit in premenopausal patients. HOBOE trial validated efficacy.	Improves (the measure goes up)	Moderate effect	17 studies
Ovarian Function Suppression Used in TEXT and SOFT trials for premenopausal breast cancer. Approved in EU and US for adjuvant treatment with tamoxifen or AI.	Improves (the measure goes down)	Large effect	11 studies
Ovarian Preservation GIM/PROMISE-GIM6 study: reduces chemotherapy-induced early menopause. Enables fertility preservation in young breast cancer patients.	Improves (the measure goes up)	Moderate effect	11 studies

Key findings

Anxiety SymptomsLaughterImproves (the measure goes down)
Depression SymptomsLaughterImproves (the measure goes down)
Menopausal SymptomsBlack CohoshImproves (the measure goes down)

The Breast Cancer (Supportive Care) protocol

2 primary supplements · 2 supporting supplements

Vitamin D2,000–4,000 IU daily (titrate to 40–60 ng/mL)
Turkey Tail Mushroom (PSK)3 g daily

See the full protocol

Studies cited

4 studies from PubMed

Effects of CBT-based interventions on health outcomes in breast cancer patients: a systematic review and Meta-analysis.Breast Cancer · PMID 40366566
The effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on psychosocial outcomes and quality of life in early-stage breast cancer patients: a randomized trialBreast Cancer Res Treat · PMID 21901389
Which specific modes of exercise training are most effective for breast related cancer fatigue? Network meta-analysis.Front Oncol · PMID 40078193
The Effect of Ketogenic Diet on Weight Loss in Adult Patients with Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Controlled Clinical TrialsNutr Cancer · PMID 35129013

Evidence by supplement

Prescription medicines and peptides studied, for context

Key findings

The Breast Cancer (Supportive Care) protocol

Studies cited

Related conditions

Supplement stack for Breast Cancer