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Nutritional Interventions for Treating Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Qualitative Review.

Nutrition and cancer
January 1, 2019
Julia E Inglis et al. (8 authors)
Journal ArticleResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate whether nutritional interventions, including ginger supplementation, could reduce cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and inflammation in cancer survivors.

Results Summary

The study suggests that ginger supplementation, along with other nutritional interventions like ginseng and probiotics, may improve energy levels in cancer survivors. Dietary patterns reducing inflammation, such as plant-based diets, were also associated with reduced fatigue.

Population

Cancer survivors experiencing cancer-related fatigue (CRF).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (4)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Increased protein intake
no change
lean mass and body composition
-
-
may help preserve
#1
Dietary patterns that reduce inflammation, such as the Mediterranean diet and other plant-based diets
no change
cancer survivors
cancer survivors
-
appear tolerable to
#2
Dietary patterns that reduce inflammation, such as the Mediterranean diet and other plant-based diets
decrease
fatigue
cancer survivors
-
may reduce
#3
Supplementation with ginseng, ginger, or probiotics
increase
cancer survivors' energy levels
cancer survivors
-
may improve
#4
Abstract

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a debilitating syndrome that persists for many cancer survivors for years after treatment. Symptoms include early and persistent fatigue, functional decline, depression, and cognitive difficulties. Inflammation, assessed using pro-inflammatory biomarkers, is increased in cancer survivors with fatigue and treatments for fatigue are often aimed at reducing inflammation. Additionally, cancer and its treatment lead to nutritional complications, changes in body composition, and nutritional deficiencies that potentially weaken the cancer survivor and impact CRF. We conducted a qualitative review of clinical trials that assessed nutritional interventions for preventing and treating CRF. Further studies were examined that used nutritional interventions to address inflammation and fatigue, due to the dearth of nutrition research directly related to CRF. Dietary intake prior to, during, and after cancer treatment appears to affect fatigue levels. Increased protein intake may help preserve lean mass and body composition. Dietary patterns that reduce inflammation, such as the Mediterranean diet and other plant-based diets, appear tolerable to cancer survivors and may reduce fatigue. Supplementation with ginseng, ginger, or probiotics may improve cancer survivors' energy levels. Nutritional interventions, alone or in combination with other interventions should be considered as therapy for fatigue in cancer survivors.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Cancer SurvivorsClinical Trials as TopicDietDietary SupplementsFatigueGastrointestinal MicrobiomeHumansMicronutrientsNeoplasmsNutrientsNutrition TherapyProbiotics
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy70/10
Quality65/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations75
Citations/Year12.5
Relative Citation Ratio4.65
NIH Percentile92.2%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.95
Weight Score2.21
Normalized Score0.61
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