Effect of Anthocyanins on the Immune Response During Colorectal Cancer Treatment in Patients Over 65 Years of Age Using Freeze-Dried Black Raspberry and Strawberry Extracts

This prospective, open-label interventional study was conducted in patients with histologically confirmed colorectal adenocarcinoma undergoing standard oncological treatment. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of short-term oral supplementation with an anthocyanin-rich preparation derived from freeze-dried black raspberry and strawberry on inflammatory response and nutritional status, as well as to assess the feasibility and tolerability of the intervention.

Participants in the intervention group received a standardized anthocyanin-rich preparation providing approximately 600-700 mg of anthocyanins per day for 21 consecutive days, in addition to standard oncological treatment. The preparation was chemically characterized prior to its clinical use.

Clinical and laboratory assessments were performed at baseline before initiation of the intervention and subsequently at approximately 4 and 12 weeks. Assessments included clinical evaluation, anthropometric measurements, nutritional assessment using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA/MNA-SF), and collection of peripheral blood samples. Laboratory analyses included selected inflammatory and biochemical biomarkers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukins and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), as well as selected growth factors and routine biochemical parameters.

The study included patients treated in a real-world oncology setting and receiving different standard treatment modalities according to clinical indications, including surgery, chemoradiotherapy, and systemic therapy. Standard oncological treatment was not modified as part of the study intervention.

A concurrent group of individuals without colorectal cancer undergoing colonoscopy was included to provide baseline comparative data. This group did not receive the study supplementation and was not followed longitudinally. Longitudinal analyses therefore focused on changes over time among participants receiving the anthocyanin-rich preparation.