Multivitamins do Not Improve Radiation Therapy Related Fatigue

October 2, 2006 updated by: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC

Multivitamins do Not Improve Radiation Therapy Related Fatigue: Results of a Double-Blind Randomized Cross-Over Trial

Multivitamins (MVi) are broadly used by cancer patients to improve overall health and energy. Fatigue is a common symptom in cancer patients including those receiving radiation therapy. We conducted a trial of MVi versus placebo in patients with breast cancer (BC) undergoing radiation therapy (Rxt) to evaluate if MVi would affect fatigue and quality of life. We randomized patients at the beginning of Rxt treatment to either placebo or Centrum Silver® (Wyeth-Whitehall laboratory). At the middle of the radiation treatments patients were switched from placebo to MVi and vice versa. Patients answered to the EORTC QLQ C-30 quality of life (QOL) and Chalder Fatigue Questionnaires at the beginning, the time of switching and at the end of Rxt. We found that both groups experienced significant decreases in general and physical fatigue at the end of the course of placebo compared to the assessment prior to this treatment. We also observed significant improvements in functional and symptoms in the patients on placebo. When we compared different groups of patients we also observed significantly lower rates of physical and general fatigue in the patients who had just finished a course of placebo as compared to patients finishing course of MVi. We conclude that MVi do not improve radiation related fatigue, and may in fact have a deleterious effect on fatigue and decrease QOL in patients with BC undergoing Rxt.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Multivitamins (MVi) are broadly used by cancer patients to improve overall health and energy. Fatigue is a common symptom in cancer patients including those receiving radiation therapy. We conducted a double blind randomized cross-over trial of MVi versus placebo in patients with breast cancer (BC) undergoing radiation therapy (Rxt) to evaluate if MVi would affect fatigue and quality of life. We randomized forty patients at the beginning of Rxt treatment to either placebo or Centrum Silver® (Wyeth-Whitehall laboratory). At the middle of the radiation treatments patients were switched from placebo to MVi and vice versa. Patients answered to the EORTC QLQ C-30 quality of life (QOL) and Chalder Fatigue Questionnaires at the beginning, the time of switching and at the end of Rxt. When we analyzed the same group of patients throughout the treatment periods, we found that both groups experienced significant decreases in general (p = 0.009; p = 0.001) and physical fatigue scores (p = 0.031; p = 0.029) at the end of the course of placebo compared to the assessment prior to this treatment. We also observed significant improvements in functional (p = 0.026) and symptoms (p = 0.016) score scales of the QOL questionnaire in the patients on placebo. No significant changes were elicited with the use of MVi. When we compared different groups of patients we also observed significantly lower rates of physical and general fatigue in the patients who had just finished a course of placebo as compared to patients finishing course of MVi (0 vs 25% p = 0.035 for both types of fatigue). We conclude that MVi do not improve radiation related fatigue, and may in fact have a deleterious effect on fatigue and decrease QOL in patients with BC undergoing Rxt. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment

40

Phase

  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Brazil
    • (sp)
      • Santo André, (sp), Brazil
        • Instituto de Radioterapia do ABC - Av. Portugal, 592 -

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • >18 years old
  • breast cancer who were to receive radiation therapy to the breast after a conservative surgery or after mastectomy

Exclusion Criteria:

  • previous history of radiation therapy,
  • chronic anemia,
  • depression
  • serious psychiatric disorders

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Double

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
fatigue

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
quality of life

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Faculdade de Medicina do ABC

Investigators

  • Study Director: Auro Del Giglio, MD, FM-ABC

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

March 1, 2006

Study Completion

August 1, 2006

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 2, 2006

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 2, 2006

First Posted (Estimate)

October 3, 2006

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

October 3, 2006

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 2, 2006

Last Verified

October 1, 2006

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 199/2005

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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