Increased survival of patients with end‑stage hepatocellular carcinoma due to intake of ONCOXIN®, a dietary supplement.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Treatment and management of patients with end‑stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a formidable challenge to contemporary branches of medical sciences. The study presented here was conducted to assess the utility of nutrient supplement, if any, for management of patients with end‑stage HCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 19 patients with end‑stage HCC (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer [BCLC] staging D) were provided with ONCOXIN® for 3 months. Another 10 patients with end‑stage HCC (BCLC stage D) with similar clinical conditions received conservative management, but they did not give consent for taking ONCOXIN® (non‑ONCOXIN® group). All patients of both groups were followed on regular basis until their death. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The results were expressed as mean and standard deviation. Comparison between groups was performed using Student’s t‑test or the Mann‑Whitney U test. For categorical data, Chi‑square or Fisher exact test was applied. RESULTS: All patients of the control group (non‑ONCOXIN® group) (10 of 10 patients) died within 2 months after study commencement. On the other hand, 10 of 19 patients receiving ONCOXIN® died within 2 months (less than 53% patients) after the start of taking ONCOXIN® (P < 0.05, compared with patients of non‑ONCOXIN® group). Five more patients died within 5 months after the start of intake of ONCOXIN®. Four patients receiving ONCOXIN® survived for more than 6 months after study commencement. CONCLUSIONS: Although this is a preliminary report, it inspires considerable optimism about safety and efficacy of a food supplement for management of patients with end‑stage HCC.

Effects of a multivitamin/multimineral supplement on young males with physical overtraining: a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blinded cross-over trial / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of vitamin-mineral supplement on young males with physical overtraining.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundred and forty male Chinese field artillery personnel who undertook large scale and endurance military training and were on ordinary Chinese diet were randomized to receive a multivitamin/multimineral supplement or a placebo for 1 week. After a 1-week wash-out period, a cross-over with 1 week course of a placebo or multivitamin/multimineral supplement was conducted. Blood and urine samples were analyzed for adrenal, gonadal and thyroid hormones. In addition, cellular immune parameters (CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+, CD4/CD8, CD3-CD56+, CD3-CD19+) were examined and psychological tests were performed before and after the training program and nutrition intervention.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After a large scale and endurance military training, the participants showed significantly increased thyroid function, decreased adrenal cortex, testosterone and immunological function, and significantly increased somatization, anger and tension. Compared to placebo, multivitamin/ multimineral intervention showed significant effects on functional recovery of the pituitary - adrenal axis, pituitary-gonadal axis, pituitary- thyroid axis and immune system as well as psychological parameters.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>High-intensity military operations have significant impacts on the psychology, physical ability and neuroendocrine-immune system in young males. Appropriate supplementation of multivitamin/multimineral can facilitate the recovery of the psychology, physical ability and neuroendocrine-immune system in young males who take ordinary Chinese diet.</p>

The use of low calorie diet supplement in weight reduction: A preliminry report.

Low calorie diet (LCD) supplement has gained popularity in weight control programs. The efficacy, acceptance and adverse effects of LCD (Modellim 40R, Medicfast) were evaluated during a 12 week weight reduction program in 11 obese volunteers. They were 2 males and 9 females, age 37.4 + 9.4 year old (mean + SD) whose body mass indices (BMI) ranged from 28.8 – 40.7 kg/m2 (mean + SD = 31.44 + 4.84). During the weight reduction period, a diet containing 800 kcal/day was prescribed in every case with a supplement of 1 packet of LCD (40 kcal) before lunch and dinner, and whenever they felt hungry. Regular exercise were also encouraged. At the beginning and at the end of the program, blood specimens were analysed for liver, kidney and thyroid function, electrolytes and other macro minerals. Lipid profiles and complete blood count were also done. All volunteers were interviewed and examined initially and every 2 weeks thereafter by one of the investigators. One female volunteer was withdrawn from the study after the first week because of aversion to LCD. The others tolerated the LCD well. They were consumed 1-3 packets daily (mean + SD 1.44 + 0.7). At the end of twelfth week, the weight loss was 3.1 + 2.9 kg (range -1.4 – 8.1 kg). There was no well-accepted in most of the cases and can be used as a supplement during weight reduction without any serious side effects.