EFFECTS OF CONJUGATED LINOLEIC ACID SUPPLEMENTATION ON NUTRITIONAL STATUS, SYMPTOMS OF EATING PROBLEMS AND DIETARY INTAKE IN RECTAL CANCER PATIENTS UNDERGOING CHEMORADIOTHERAPY

Abstract

The aims of this study were to determine the effect of conjugated linoleic acid (CIA) supplementation on nutritional status, symptoms of eating problems and dietary intake in rectal cancer patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy. In this randomized clinical trial, 33 volunteer patients with rectal cancer who were referred to the radiotherapy center were recruited Patients were assigned into CIA group (n=16), receiving 3 g CLAM and placebo group (n=17) receiving placebo capsules (sunflower oil) for 6 weeks. Before and after intervention, nutritional status, weight symptoms of eating problems and dietary intake of patients were assessed by Patients Generated Subjective Global Assessment, Seca scale, questionnaire and 24-hour food recall method respectively. At the end of intervention, 2 patients were excluded from the study. In the CIA group, incidence of malnutrition decreased significantly as compared with the placebo group (P=0.033). In comparison with placebo group, CIA supplementation resulted in significant (P<0.05) reduction in incidence of appetite loss, nausea, diarrhea, pain and significant increase in dietary intake (P<0.05). At the end of study, the mean body weight of patients decreased significantly in both groups (P<0.05). According to our results, it seems that CIA may provide new complementary treatment by improving malnutrition, eating problems and dietary intake. However, further studies with large sample size are needed to confirm our results.