A Pilot Study to Explore the Effects of Freeze-Dried Miracle Fruit (MiraBurst) on Patients Receiving Cancer Treatment

Cancer and the treatment of cancer can create many symptoms that impact people's lives. More than 90% of people with cancer have at least one symptom caused by their cancer or treatment. The most common symptoms are related to the gastrointestinal system. Change in sense of taste is the fourth most common symptom and may be described as "food not tasting the same as they use to, food tasting bland, everything tastes the same, or an unpleasant bitter or metallic taste." Change in taste can impact a person's quality of life, but there are not many options to treat this symptom.

The MiraBurst product used in this study comes from a berry fruit harvested in Ghana. The berries are freeze-dried into a powder and pressed into small, square pieces that each weigh 300 mg. The product is made from 100% pure miracle berry powder and has the same natural composition as the fresh berry. It contains no additives or preservatives. The berry is vegan, allergen-free, and gluten-free, and it has no known side effects. During processing, no substances are extracted from the berries except water. This product is not classified as a drug or a dietary supplement and does not contain any active or inactive ingredients. Because it is a pure berry powder, it does not go through a strict standardization process. Both the raw freeze-dried powder and the finished product (MiraBurst Mini Squares) are tested by third-party laboratories for microbial safety in both Ghana and the United States. The powder is also tested for heavy metals and goes through contaminant removal and metal detection during manufacturing. According to the manufacturer, the freeze-dried miracle berry powder is produced in a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant facility in Ghana. The manufacturing and packaging facilities for MiraBurst Mini Squares in the United States (Connecticut and New Jersey) are also GMP-compliant. There are no known interactions between this product and herbs or medications. The product is available over the counter and is commonly used several times a day, up to five times daily-before breakfast, snacks, lunch, and dinner.

Previous studies have shown that supplements made from the same miracle fruit can have promising effects for people with cancer. One pilot study in 2010 found that 30% of people who received miracle fruit for two weeks reported improvements in their taste perception. In another pilot study, all participants who received miracle fruit reported positive changes after two weeks. Participants reported that taste changes such as experiencing a sour or metallic taste improved and that foods tasted sweeter or more pleasant. Yet another study found these similar positive changes, while also finding that participants who received miracle berry also had a higher energy intake, increased fat-free mass, and improved quality of life compared to participants on placebo. Preclinical data on miracle berry extract indicate that it is relatively safe, with no significant toxicity reported. The active component in miracle berry, miraculin, is a glycoprotein that is rapidly and completely digested in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This makes systemic absorption and interaction with drug-metabolizing enzymes, such as CYP450 or MAO (monoamine oxidase), highly unlikely. Both in silico and in vitro analyses have demonstrated a low potential for allergenicity or cross-reactivity with other proteins.

This study seeks to confirm the promising and beneficial effects of miracle fruit, with a branded product (MiraBurst), which has appropriate manufacturing controls in place for quality consistency, on symptoms related to dysgeusia (alterations in taste perception).