TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of oral supplementation with branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) during radiotherapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
T2 - A double-blind randomized study
AU - Lee, Ik Jae
AU - Seong, Jinsil
AU - Bae, Jung Im
AU - You, Sei Hwan
AU - Rhee, Yumie
AU - Lee, Jong Ho
PY - 2011/3
Y1 - 2011/3
N2 - Purpose: The present study evaluated whether oral supplementation with a branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) improves the biochemical and amino acid profiles of liver tumor patients undergoing radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to one of 2 groups: a group given oral supplementation with BCAA granules (LIVACT granules; Samil Pharm Co., Korea, each granule containing Lisoleucine 952 mg, L-leucine 1,904 mg, and L-valine 1,144 mg) during radiotherapy, or a placebo group. Physical and biochemical examinations and measurements, including subjective symptoms, Child-Pugh class, body mass index, plasma albumin concentration, and plasma amino acid profiles were monitored. Results: Fifty were enrolled between November 2005 and November 2006. We also analyzed data from 37 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients in order to evaluate a more homogenous group. The two groups of patients were comparable in terms of age, gender, Child-Pugh score, and underlying hepatitis virus type. Serum albumin, total protein, liver enzymes, and cholesterol showed a tendency to increase in the BCAA group. In this group, the percentage of cases that reverted to normal serum albumin levels between 3 and 10 weeks after administration of BCAA was significantly higher (41.18%) than in the placebo group (p=0.043). Conclusion: Oral supplementation with a BCAA preparation seems to help HCC patients undergoing radiotherapy by increasing the BCAA concentration.
AB - Purpose: The present study evaluated whether oral supplementation with a branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) improves the biochemical and amino acid profiles of liver tumor patients undergoing radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to one of 2 groups: a group given oral supplementation with BCAA granules (LIVACT granules; Samil Pharm Co., Korea, each granule containing Lisoleucine 952 mg, L-leucine 1,904 mg, and L-valine 1,144 mg) during radiotherapy, or a placebo group. Physical and biochemical examinations and measurements, including subjective symptoms, Child-Pugh class, body mass index, plasma albumin concentration, and plasma amino acid profiles were monitored. Results: Fifty were enrolled between November 2005 and November 2006. We also analyzed data from 37 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients in order to evaluate a more homogenous group. The two groups of patients were comparable in terms of age, gender, Child-Pugh score, and underlying hepatitis virus type. Serum albumin, total protein, liver enzymes, and cholesterol showed a tendency to increase in the BCAA group. In this group, the percentage of cases that reverted to normal serum albumin levels between 3 and 10 weeks after administration of BCAA was significantly higher (41.18%) than in the placebo group (p=0.043). Conclusion: Oral supplementation with a BCAA preparation seems to help HCC patients undergoing radiotherapy by increasing the BCAA concentration.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84859122738&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84859122738&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4143/crt.2011.43.1.24
DO - 10.4143/crt.2011.43.1.24
M3 - Article
C2 - 21509160
AN - SCOPUS:84859122738
VL - 43
SP - 24
EP - 31
JO - Cancer Research and Treatment
JF - Cancer Research and Treatment
SN - 1598-2998
IS - 1
ER -