Ko MH, Song SY, Ha SJ, Lee JY, Yoon SW, Park JH, Park SJ, Yoo HS. Efficacy and Safety of Yukgunja-Tang for Patients with Cancer-related Anorexia: A Randomized, Controlled Trial, Pilot Study.
Integr Cancer Ther 2021;
20:15347354211019107. [PMID:
34032151 PMCID:
PMC8371029 DOI:
10.1177/15347354211019107]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective:
The purpose of this study is both to estimate the efficacy and the safety of
Yukgunja-tang (YGJT) and to establish evidence for the use of herbal
medicines in the management of patients with cancer-related anorexia.
Methods:
We enrolled 40 patients with cancer-related anorexia. The enrolled
participants were randomly allocated to 2 groups: the control group
(n = 20), which received nutrition counseling, and the treatment group
(n = 20), which received nutrition counseling and was administered YGJT at
twice a day for 4 weeks (a total of 56 times @ 3.0 g each time). The primary
outcome of this study was the score on the anorexia/cachexia subscale (ACS)
of the Functional Assessment of Anorexia/Cachexia Therapy (FAACT). The
secondary outcomes were the FAACT score with the ACS score excluded, the
score on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for appetite, and the results on
laboratory tests regarding appetite, such as leptin, tumor necrosis factors
(TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and ghrelin. All variables related to the
safety assessment, such as vital signs, electrocardiography results,
laboratory test results (complete blood cell count, chemistry, urine test),
and adverse events, were documented on the case report form (CRF) at every
visit.
Result:
The difference in the primary outcome, that is, the score on the
anorexia/cachexia subscale (ACS) of the Functional Assessment of
Anorexia/Cachexia Therapy (FAACT), between the control and the treatment
groups was statistically significant (P = .023) as was the
difference in the FAACT scores with the ACS score excluded, a secondary
outcome, between the 2 groups; however, no statistically significant
differences were noted in the scores on the VAS or the levels of leptin,
TNF-α, IL-6, and ghrelin. In addition, no significant differences in the
numbers and the types of adverse events or in the results on the laboratory
tests between the control and the treatment groups were recorded.
Conclusion:
These results obtained in this research confirmed the efficacy and the safety
of using YGJT as a herb-medicine treatment option for patients with
cancer-related anorexia.
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