Evaluation of the Influence of Short Term Fasting Diet on Chemotherapy-induced Toxicities in Breast Cancer Patients

University of Thessaly50 enrolled

Overview

This is a clinical trial aiming to assess the effect of fasting diet on chemotherapy - induced toxicities in breast cancer patients. The study will have an intevention group and a control group. The intervention group will follow a fasting diet for 60 hours (36h prior chemotherapy and 24h after the end of chemotherapy), while the control group will follow regular diet. At the meantime of the chemotherapy cycles, the intervention group will be recommended to follow the Mediterranean diet. The patients will be randomized in the two groups. A total of 50 patients is required. Biochemical data, anthropometric measures and grading of toxicity according to National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, nutritional habits, adherence to the Mediterranean diet (implementation of MedDietScore) will be assessed prior, during and after the intervention, in both groups. Nutritional counseling will be performed by Registered Dietitian, and telephone interviews will be used to record adherence to fasting diet and Mediterranean diet. The main questions this study is aiming to answer is whether short term fasting diet influences chemotherary - induced toxicities and if it is easy to be implemented.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

NONE

Interventions

fasting dietOTHER

A total of 50 patients with breast cancer will be randomly devided in intervention and control group. Intervention group will follow a 60 hours fasting diet (36h prior and 24h after chemotherapy infusion), low in calories, mainly plant based, and the Mediterranean Diet in the meantime between chemotherapy cycles. Control group will receive only standard of care. Nutritional counseling and dietary records will be performed by registered dietitian. Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet will be estimated with MedDietScore. Grade of toxicity will be estimated by using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. All participants will be encourange to continue usual physical activity.

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 75 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * breast cancer patients with first diagnosis of breast cancer * no distinct metastasis * patients will receive at least 4 cycles of adjuvant or neo-adjuvant chemotherapy Exclusion Criteria: * BMI\<19kg/m2 * unintentional weight loss of \>3 or \>5 kg the last 3 or 6 months respectively * medical history of anorexia nervosa, boulimia or any other eating disorders * renal failure (creatinine \>2mg/dl) * diabetes mellitus (type I or Insulin dependent type II) * serious psychiatric disease * serious cardiovascular disease * mobility limitations * being participant in any other study

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Evaluation of the influence of short term fasting diet on the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events [safety and tolerability]) caused by chemotherapy

Grade of toxicity will be accessed after each chempotherapy, using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events and eorct. Data will be collected and comparison between the two groups will be performed after each chemotherapy cycle.

Time frame: The patients with receive 4-8 cycles of chemotherapy,each cycle is repeated every 21 days. At the end of each cycle and prior next cycle the incidence of treatment - emergent adverse events (safety and tolerability) will be accessed.