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Research: FEDERICO and colleagues,
Listed in Issue 70
Abstract
FEDERICO and colleagues, Semeiotics and Clinical Methodology, II University of Naples, Naples, Italy, alefederico@yahoo.it, conducted a randomized case-control study to evaluate the effects of oral selenium and zinc in patients with cancer of the digestive tract during chemotherapy .
Background
Methodology
The study was carried out at the department of Medical Oncology, II University of Naples, beginning in 1999. 60 patients (median age 55 years, age range 46-61 years) with a diagnosis of gut cancer were treated for 60 days with chemotherapy and were randomized to active intervention or control (no intervention). Trace elements were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. The nutritional status of the patients was assessed by biochemical and bioimpedence analysis (BIA) parameters at baseline and after 60 days of treatment. Active intervention consisted of oral administration of selenium and zinc in tablet form daily for 50 days (selenium, 200 ug/day, 50 ug/tablet; zinc, 21 mg/day, 7 mg/tablet).
Results
At baseline and at 60 days, all patients were malnourished . Cancer patients had significantly lower selenium and zinc levels than control subjects (p<0.01), and significantly higher copper levels (p<0.01). 70% of cancer patients (21/30) treated with selenium and zinc showed no further worsening of nutritional status and experienced a significant decrease in asthenia (lack of strength, debility) with an increase of appetite . In contrast, 80% of untreated cancer patients (24/30) showed a significant decline in all parameters studied after 60 days (pre-albumin, cholesterol, transferrin, p<0.05 versus baseline; total proteins, albumin/globulin ratio, p<0.01 versus baseline; fat-free mass, fat mass, Na+/K+ ratio, body mass index, p<0.05 versus baseline; fat-free mass/fat mass, total body water, extracellular/ intracellular water, basal metabolic rate, p<0.01 versus baseline).
Conclusion
Selenium and zinc supplementation may improve the clinical course of general conditions in patients with gut cancer . The authors state that these effects of selenium and zinc require confirmation in an independent trial of appropriate design before new public health recommendations regarding selenium and zinc supplementation can be made.
References
Federico A et al. Effects of selenium and zinc supplementation on nutritional status in patients with cancer of digestive tract. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 55 (4): 293-7. Apr 2001.
