Effect of beta glucan on white blood cell counts and serum levels of IL-4 and
IL-12 in women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy: a randomized
double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.
Author(s): Ostadrahimi A(1), Ziaei JE, Esfahani A, Jafarabadi MA, Movassaghpourakbari A,
Farrin N.
Affiliation(s): Author information:
(1)Nutrition Research Center. Faculty of Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical
Sciences, Tabriz, Iran E-mail : nazilafarrin@gmail.com Asi.
Publication date & source: 2014, Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. , 15(14):5733-9
BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common female malignancy in the world. Beta
glucan can be a hematopoietic and an immune modulator agent in cancer patients.
The aim of this trial was to determine the effect of beta glucan on white blood
cell counts and serum levels of IL-4 and IL-12 in women with breast cancer
undergoing chemotherapy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical
trial was conducted on 30 women with breast carcinoma aged 28-65 years. The
eligible participants were randomly assigned to intervention (n=15) or placebo
(n=15) groups using a block randomization procedure with matching based on age,
course of chemotherapy and menopause status. Patients in the intervention group
received two 10-mg capsules of soluble 1-3, 1-6, D-beta glucan daily and the
control group receiving placebo during 21 days, the interval between two courses
of chemotherapy. White blood cells, neuthrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte counts
as well as serum levels of IL-4 and IL-12 were measured at baseline and at the
end of the study as primary outcomes of the study.
RESULTS: In both groups white blood cell counts decreased after 21 days of the
intervention, however in the beta glucan group, WBC was less decreased non
significantly than the placebo group. At the end of the study, the change in the
serum level of IL-4 in the beta glucan group in comparison with the placebo group
was statistically significant (p=0.001). The serum level of IL-12 in the beta
glucan group statistically increased (p=0.03) and comparison between two groups
at the end of the study was significant after adjusting for baseline values and
covariates (p=0.007).
CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that beta glucan can be useful as a
complementary or adjuvant therapy and immunomodulary agent in breast cancer
patients in combination with cancer therapies, but further studies are needed for
confirmation.
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