Increased Protein Intake (Eggs) for Cancer Recovery

Overseen By Wendy Wismer, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Alberta

Disqualifiers: Brain cancer, Egg allergy, COPD, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

90 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment of increased protein intake (eggs) for cancer recovery?

Research suggests that higher protein intake is linked to better survival rates in breast cancer patients, indicating that protein-rich foods like eggs might help in cancer recovery. However, the exact mechanism is unclear, and more studies are needed to confirm these findings. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is it safe for cancer survivors to increase protein intake through egg consumption?

The research does not specifically address the safety of increased egg consumption for cancer survivors, but it highlights that dietary changes and supplement use are common among cancer survivors, often without medical supervision. It's important for patients to discuss any dietary changes with their healthcare provider to avoid potentially harmful practices. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

How does the egg supplementation treatment for cancer recovery differ from other treatments?

The egg supplementation treatment is unique because it involves increasing protein intake through the consumption of eggs, which may help improve muscle mass and strength in cancer patients. Unlike other treatments that might focus on medication or surgery, this approach uses a dietary intervention to potentially enhance recovery and quality of life. ^{1 3 8 10 11}

What is the purpose of this trial?

Cancer and its treatments often result in severe toxicities and side effects that, over the course of treatment, results in weight loss and depletion of key nutrients. Loss of muscle mass and strength during cancer treatment is a critical problem because it negatively affects patient response and tolerance to therapy and post-treatment recovery. To restore the nutritional status, it is imperative to stimulate muscle protein anabolism. Eggs are high quality protein source, popular and well tolerated by cancer patients. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine whether a nutritional intervention of ≥2 eggs can aid in restoring nutritional status and improving immune function and quality of life of cancer patients' post-treatment. It is an 8- week randomised clinical trial with parallel arm assignment. Half of the participants will receive the nutritional intervention (Early Intervention) and the other half will be on standard of care or usual diet for first 4 weeks. Starting from week 5, all participants will receive the nutrition intervention till week 8 (Delayed Intervention). Dietary intake (foods and nutrients), cumulative protein intake (g protein/kg body weight), immunological measures, physical performance and quality of life has been planned to be assessed over time and between groups to evaluate the feasibility of an egg intervention in meeting recommended protein intakes for patients with cancer.

Research Team

Vera Mazurak, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Alberta

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults over 18 who've finished platinum chemotherapy for cancer, can eat on their own, and are willing to follow the study plan. It's not for those allergic to eggs, fed by tubes or IV nutrition, with brain cancer or conditions affecting food consumption or nutrient metabolism.

Inclusion Criteria

Patients must have the ability to read, understand, and sign an informed consent and must be willing to comply with study treatment and follow-up

I have completed treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy for my confirmed cancer.

I can eat semi-solid foods by myself and can continue to do so.

Exclusion Criteria

I am fed through a tube or IV nutrition.

I don't have conditions affecting my nutrient absorption.

Known hypersensitivity or allergy to eggs

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Early Intervention

Participants receive a nutritional intervention of ≥2 eggs immediately after the completion of treatment for 8 weeks

8 weeks

Delayed Intervention

Participants receive a nutritional intervention of ≥2 eggs starting 4 weeks after the completion of treatment, for 4 weeks

4 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in body weight, protein intake, energy intake, quality of life, nutritional status, symptom severity, and physical performance

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• ≥ 2 eggs in addition to usual diet

Trial Overview The study tests if adding at least two eggs daily to the diet of cancer patients post-treatment can improve protein intake, immune function, and quality of life. Participants are randomly assigned to start this egg-enriched diet either immediately or after four weeks.

Participant Groups

Group I: Early Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants are expected to begin intervention immediately after the completion of treatment for a period of 8 weeks.

Group II: Delayed Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants are expected to begin intervention 4 weeks after the completion of the treatment, for a period of 4 weeks (weeks 5-8).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Alberta

Lead Sponsor

Trials

957

Recruited

437,000+

Egg Farmers of Canada

Collaborator

Trials

3

Recruited

270+

Findings from Research

Cancer survivors are more likely to use dietary supplements, with 70.4% reporting any supplement use compared to 51.2% of individuals without cancer, and they also consume higher doses of certain vitamins and minerals.

Despite higher supplement use, cancer survivors tend to have lower nutrient intakes from food, leading to a higher prevalence of inadequate nutrient intake for several essential nutrients, as well as a risk of excess intake from supplements, particularly for vitamin D and calcium.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary Supplement Use among Adult Cancer Survivors in the United States. Du, M., Luo, H., Blumberg, JB., et al.[2023]

Breast cancer patients should undergo a nutritional assessment right after diagnosis to tailor dietary interventions that support their health during and after treatment, focusing on maintaining a healthy body weight and lean mass.

A personalized nutrition plan is recommended, emphasizing a balanced intake of macronutrients (less than 30% fat, about 55% carbohydrates, and adequate protein) and encouraging high consumption of fruits and vegetables to improve nutritional status and overall health outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary Guidelines for Breast Cancer Patients: A Critical Review. Limon-Miro, AT., Lopez-Teros, V., Astiazaran-Garcia, H.[2023]

In a study of 6,348 women with stage I to III breast cancer, higher protein intake was associated with a modest improvement in survival rates, particularly with animal protein, suggesting that protein consumption may be beneficial post-diagnosis.

The study found no significant differences in survival benefits based on insulin receptor status or specific types of amino acids, indicating that women with breast cancer may not need to restrict protein intake for better outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Protein Intake and Breast Cancer Survival in the Nurses' Health Study. Holmes, MD., Wang, J., Hankinson, SE., et al.[2019]

In a study of 177 women with primary breast cancer, higher total protein intake was linked to increased expression of VEGF-A and VEGFR2, particularly in patients with progesterone receptor-positive tumors and those with axillary lymph node metastasis.

Animal protein intake was associated with overexpression of RhoA in estrogen receptor-positive tumors and those with vascular invasion, suggesting that dietary protein may influence tumor behavior and metastasis in breast cancer patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary protein sources and tumoral overexpression of RhoA, VEGF-A and VEGFR2 genes among breast cancer patients. Shokri, A., Pirouzpanah, S., Foroutan-Ghaznavi, M., et al.[2023]

A systematic review of seven studies found that breast cancer survivors with better overall dietary intake, characterized by healthier patterns and lower inflammation, had a decreased risk of overall and non-breast cancer mortality.

While the evidence suggests that improving dietary quality may enhance overall survival for breast cancer survivors, there is not enough data to make firm conclusions about its impact on breast cancer-specific survival or recurrence.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Overall Dietary Intake and Prognosis after Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review. Terranova, CO., Protani, MM., Reeves, MM.[2019]

In a study of 1081 cancer survivors in France, 62% of women and 29% of men reported using dietary supplements (DS), often without informing their doctors, highlighting a significant gap in medical supervision.

18% of DS users engaged in potentially harmful practices, such as combining certain supplements with medications or using them inappropriately for their cancer type, indicating a need for better communication between patients and healthcare providers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary supplement use among cancer survivors of the NutriNet-Santé cohort study. Pouchieu, C., Fassier, P., Druesne-Pecollo, N., et al.[2015]

This report highlights the need for more research on optimal nutrition for cancer survivors, as most dietary guidelines focus on cancer prevention rather than post-treatment care.

It provides evidence-based dietary recommendations tailored to different phases of cancer survivorship and specific cancer types, along with a FAQ section to enhance communication between survivors and healthcare providers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nutrition during and after cancer treatment: a guide for informed choices by cancer survivors. Brown, J., Byers, T., Thompson, K., et al.[2019]

There is no confirmed link between fat consumption and breast or colon cancer, but alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of cancers in the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus.

A balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables is recommended for cancer patients, as it does not differ significantly from the diet of healthy individuals, and early nutritional intervention is crucial to prevent clinical depletion during cancer treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Nutrition and cancer: causative, protective and therapeutic aspects]. van den Brandt, PA., Dagnelie, PC., von Meyenfeldt, MF.[2018]

A study involving 684 breast cancer survivors revealed that many patients made positive dietary changes after their diagnosis, such as increasing their intake of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains while reducing red and processed meat consumption.

Despite these changes, less than half of the survivors reported modifying their diets, and many used dietary supplements without consulting their oncologists, highlighting the need for better communication and tailored nutrition counseling for cancer survivors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Results of the ECHO (Eating habits CHanges in Oncologic patients) Survey: An Italian Cross-Sectional Multicentric Study to Explore Dietary Changes and Dietary Supplement Use, in Breast Cancer Survivors. Caprara, G., Tieri, M., Fabi, A., et al.[2022]

A scoping review of 14 studies indicates that protein and amino acid supplementation can positively impact muscle strength in adult cancer patients, generally aligning with improvements in muscle mass.

Combining energy and protein intake, especially when oral intake is low, leads to more significant gains in muscle strength and mass, although the exact mechanisms behind this effect need further investigation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Impact of Protein Supplementation Targeted at Improving Muscle Mass on Strength in Cancer Patients: A Scoping Review. Zanetti, M., Gortan Cappellari, G., Barazzoni, R., et al.[2021]

Research indicates that both underfeeding and optimal protein intake can inhibit tumor growth, suggesting that the quantity of protein consumed is more critical than its source in cancer prevention.

The relationship between protein intake and cancer risk is complex, as high protein diets may sometimes lower tumor incidence due to reduced overall food intake, highlighting the need for careful consideration of dietary factors in cancer studies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary protein and experimental carcinogenesis. Visek, WJ.[2019]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary Supplement Use among Adult Cancer Survivors in the United States. [2023]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary Guidelines for Breast Cancer Patients: A Critical Review. [2023]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Protein Intake and Breast Cancer Survival in the Nurses' Health Study. [2019]

4. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary protein sources and tumoral overexpression of RhoA, VEGF-A and VEGFR2 genes among breast cancer patients. [2023]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Overall Dietary Intake and Prognosis after Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review. [2019]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary supplement use among cancer survivors of the NutriNet-Santé cohort study. [2015]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nutrition during and after cancer treatment: a guide for informed choices by cancer survivors. [2019]

8. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Nutrition and cancer: causative, protective and therapeutic aspects]. [2018]

9. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Results of the ECHO (Eating habits CHanges in Oncologic patients) Survey: An Italian Cross-Sectional Multicentric Study to Explore Dietary Changes and Dietary Supplement Use, in Breast Cancer Survivors. [2022]

10. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Impact of Protein Supplementation Targeted at Improving Muscle Mass on Strength in Cancer Patients: A Scoping Review. [2021]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary protein and experimental carcinogenesis. [2019]