Effects of zinc supplementation on fatigue and quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of oral zinc supplementation on fatigue intensity and quality of life of patients during chemotherapy for colorectal cancer.Methods A prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was conducted with 24 patients on chemotherapy for colorectal adenocarcinoma in a tertiary care public hospital. The study patients received zinc capsules 35mg (Zinc Group, n=10) or placebo (Placebo Group, n=14) orally, twice daily (70mg/day), for 16 weeks, from the immediate postoperative period to the fourth chemotherapy cycle. Approximately 45 days after surgical resection of the tumor, all patients received a chemotherapeutic regimen. Before each of the four cycles of chemotherapy, the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue scale was completed. We used a linear mixed model for longitudinal data for statistical analysis.Results The scores of quality of life and fatigue questionnaires were similar between the groups during the chemotherapy cycles. The Placebo Group presented worsening of quality of life and increased fatigue between the first and fourth cycles of chemotherapy, but there were no changes in the scores of quality of life or fatigue in the Zinc Group.Conclusion Zinc supplementation prevented fatigue and maintained quality of life of patients with colorectal cancer on chemotherapy.

Zinc as a complementary treatment for cancer patients: a systematic review

“…Detection and recognition of the four taste qualities bitter, sour, sweet and salty 1. Significant worsening in all four qualities in arm B at the end of RT (p’s ≤ 0.03) In arm A only change for sour ( p = 0.038) Significant worsening in all four qualities in arm B 1 month after RT ( p = 0.001) In arm A only higher threshold for perception of salty ( p = 0.046) No group comparisons Ribeiro et al [ 32 ] 1. Fatigue 2.…”

“…In the study by Sangthawan et al [ 22 ], patients in both arms lost weight, but the results were not significant in none of the measurement time points ( p = no information). Ribeiro et al [ 32 ] included 24 patients with stages II to IV of colorectal adenocarcinoma in their study and examined the effects of zinc or a placebo over a period of approximately 16 weeks in which the patients were treated with chemotherapy. They assessed the BMI, whereby they could not find any significant differences from the baseline to the fourth cycle of chemotherapy (T0: zinc arm: mean (SD) = 24.8 (5.9), placebo arm: 24.9 (5.1), T4: zinc arm: 23.9 (5.1), placebo arm: 24.2 (6.5), p = not significant).…”

“…So, we have declared them as secondary endpoint in order to document this specific relation of dependence. The effects of zinc on patients` quality of life were examined in three RCTs [ 20 , 31 , 32 ], of which none found significant results. The analysis by Ribeiro et al [ 32 ] revealed no significant differences between the arms ( p = no information), although the zinc serum level in the intervention arm was significantly higher than in the placebo arm at the end of their examination ( p = no information).…”

“…The effects of zinc on patients` quality of life were examined in three RCTs [20,31,32], of which none found significant results. The analysis by Ribeiro et al [32] revealed no significant differences between the arms (p = no information), although the zinc serum level in the intervention arm was significantly higher than in the placebo arm at the end of their examination (p = no information). The quality of life in the placebo arm deteriorated significantly over the course of the four chemotherapy cycles (T1: mean (SD) = 126 (16), T4 = 116 (27), p = 0.02).…”

Dietary Patterns and Health Outcomes among African American Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients

“…Previous studies have found that low intakes of Zn and Se have been associated with lower QOL indicators. Low Zn status has been associated with impaired QOL due to lower physical ability and fatigue in non-CKD patients [36,37]. Zn deficiency can contribute to disturbances in taste (dysgeusia) and smell, which may lead to poor nutritional intake, a commonly observed issue in CKD patients [38][39][40].…”