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Nutrition Support to Improve Outcomes in Patients With Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer

Not Applicable
Terminated
Conditions
Cancer of Pancreas
Interventions
Other: Diet Only
Dietary Supplement: Nutrawell Powder
Dietary Supplement: OmegaRich fish oil supplement
Registration Number
NCT02681601
Lead Sponsor
Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
Brief Summary

There are few well-designed studies evaluating the effect of nutrition support in patients with cancer cachexia. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of dietary prescription with and without nutrition supplementation in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer on body weight, body composition, total calorie intake, quality of life and blood inflammatory markers.

Detailed Description

A total of 60 subjects will be recruited from The University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Hirshberg Pancreatic Cancer Center, print and/or radio advertisements, UCLA campus wide e-mail, and flyers posted on campus and in the community. Participants will be pre-screened over the telephone to determine eligibility. Eligible subjects will be asked to come to the Center for Human Nutrition for a Screening Visit.

At screening, informed consent and authorization will be reviewed and signed a medical history will be obtained. The subjects will be screened by medical history/physical exam, a fasting blood sample will be collected for a comprehensive metabolic panel, a complete blood count, chemistry and liver function tests.

Day 1 will be the first study day. Subjects will come to the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition in the fasting state and remain for approximately \~1 hour. The food intake record will be collected and entered into the Automated Self- Administered Food Recall (NIH ASA24). The vital signs, anthropometric assessments will be measured and quality of life questionnaire will be completed.

A fasting blood sample (20 ml) will be collected for metabolic panel and inflammatory markers. A 6-minute walk will be done at the research center.

Subjects will be evaluated by a registered dietitian and randomized to diet prescription (55% carbohydrate, 30% fat and 15% protein) vs. the same diet prescription including three servings of supplement powder and fish oil. The research dietitian will develop meal plans based on basal metabolic rate and physical activity. Subjects will be provided a pedometer to wear daily. Any subject in either group who develops symptoms of pancreatic insufficiency will be provided with pancreatic enzyme supplementation.

Day 28, 56, 84 and 112 will be follow-up visits. The same procedures will be performed as on day 1. Subjects will come to the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition in the fasting state and remain for approximately \~1 hour.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
Male
Target Recruitment
2
Inclusion Criteria
  • Unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma
  • Weight loss of greater than 5% in the previous 6 months
  • Life expectancy of greater than 3 months and a Karnofsky performance score of 60 or more.
  • Non-smokers
Exclusion Criteria
  • Chemotherapy other than gemcitabine
  • Radiotherapy, or surgical treatment in the previous month
  • Consumption of dietary supplements or medications such as steroids that could affect metabolism.
  • Presence of ascites
  • Liver function test > 2 standard deviation of upper limit
  • Chronic or acute renal insufficiency
  • Severe anemia with hemoglobin<10
  • Uncontrolled pain
  • Uncontrolled nausea and vomiting
  • Participation in a therapeutic research study within 30 days of baseline
  • Diet restrictions including vegetarianism and veganism
  • Allergy or intolerance to fish and/or fish oil

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Dietary Intervention OnlyDiet OnlySubjects will be evaluated by a registered dietitian with a diet prescription (55% carbohydrate, 30% fat and 15% protein) not including servings of Nutrawell powder with fish oil.
Diet + Nutrawell Powder with Fish OilNutrawell PowderSubjects will be evaluated by a registered dietitian with a diet prescription (55% carbohydrate, 30% fat and 15% protein) including Nutrawell powder with fish oil.
Diet + Nutrawell Powder with Fish OilOmegaRich fish oil supplementSubjects will be evaluated by a registered dietitian with a diet prescription (55% carbohydrate, 30% fat and 15% protein) including Nutrawell powder with fish oil.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Anthropometric measurement: WeightAt each visit outlined for 3 months

Weight in Kilograms

Anthropometric measurement: Body CompositionAt each visit outlined for 3 months

Body Composition: kilogram weight of lean body mass

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Blood biochemistryAt each visit outlined for 3 months

Inflammatory markers

Quality of life: AppetiteAt each visit outlined for 3 months

Appetite will be measured on a numerical rating scale between 0 and 10, where 0 indicated absolutely no appetite and 10 indicated an extremely good appetite (Simons et al, 1996)

Physical activityAt each visit outlined for 3 months

Karnofsky performance score

Quality of life: GeneralAt each visit outlined for 3 months

Measured with short form health survey (SF36)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

UCLA Department of Medicine Center for Human Nutrition

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Los Angeles, California, United States

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