Use of products containing wheat germ enhances quality of life for patients with lung cancer.
Hidvegi, M., Moldvay, J., Lapis, K., Ajkay, Z., Use of products containing wheat germ enhances quality of life for patients with lung cancer. Pulmono 2003.
Background: Patients with metastatic cancer, in general, have relatively poor quality of life. This poor quality of life can interfere with treatment and can hasten death and disability. One of the main research and treatment goals in advanced lung cancer is to improve patient quality of life, thereby improving prospects for cancer treatment and a longer life.
Clinical Study: Hungarian researchers examined the effects of an orally consumed, fermented wheat germ product on quality of life in patients with advanced lung cancer. Sixteen patients (8 male, 8 female) who had confirmed diagnosis of lung cancer were given a standardized test to accurately measure their current quality of life. This test, called the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer or EORTC QLQ-C30, is a widely used, 30-question, cancer-specific quality of life measure. At the beginning of the study, patients reported an extremely poor quality of life (average score of 60%). Patients underwent individualized cancer treatment as proposed by their oncologists. Patients also took the fermented wheat germ product for 12 weeks. After the study period, scores on the EORTC QLQ-C30 improved considerably, which indicates improved quality of life. Particular improvement occurred in the domains of fatigue, state of health, viability, pain, lack of appetite, and mood. One limitation of the study design is that patients concurrently received cancer treatment and wheat germ product, making it difficult to separate the effect of each treatment. All patients in the study received wheat germ and there was no comparison (placebo) group.
Conclusion: Fermented wheat germ product, when combined with standard cancer treatment, improved quality of life in patients with advanced lung cancer.
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