RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Counseling Patients on Cancer Diets: A Review of the Literature and Recommendations for Clinical Practice JF Anticancer Research JO Anticancer Res FD International Institute of Anticancer Research SP 39 OP 48 VO 34 IS 1 A1 JUTTA HUEBNER A1 SABINE MARIENFELD A1 CLARE ABBENHARDT A1 CORNELIA ULRICH A1 KARSTEN MUENSTEDT A1 OLIVER MICKE A1 RALPH MUECKE A1 CHRISTIAN LOESER YR 2014 UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/34/1/39.abstract AB Background: Many cancer patients use cancer diets. Materials and Methods: We listed 13 cancer diets simulating an internet search for which we systematically reviewed clinical data. In the next step we derived recommendations on counseling patients using a Delphi process. Results: We evaluated the following diets: raw vegetables and fruits, alkaline diet, macrobiotics, Gerson's regime, Budwig's and low carbohydrate or ketogenic diet. We did not find clinical evidence supporting any of the diets. Furthermore, case reports and pre-clinical data point to the potential harm of some of these diets. From published recommendations on counseling on complementary and alternative medicine, we were able to derive 14 recommendations for counseling on cancer diets. Conclusion: Considering the lack of evidence of benefits from cancer diets and potential harm by malnutrition, oncologists should engage more in counseling cancer patients on such diets. Our recommendations could be helpful in this process.