Oral Propolis, Nutritional Status and Quality of Life with Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial.

Chemotherapy-induced side effects include an impaired nutritional status and reduced quality of life in patients. The contribution of propolis, as a co-adjuvant nutritional supplement in cancer treatment, is suggested due to its functional characteristics and biological activities such as antitumoral activity, DNA protection, free radicals scavenging, and immune stimulation; however, clinical trials to support these effects in cancer patients are necessary. This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to assess the effect of propolis vs. placebo on the nutritional status and quality of life in patients diagnosed with breast cancer who are receiving chemotherapy (No. IRCT2016062828679N1). A total of 60 patients from the Oncology Clinic at Tohid Hospital, Sanandaj, Iran were randomized to receive propolis (250 mg/two times per day for three months) or a placebo. After three months of intervention, energy intake of patients who received propolis increased significantly compared to placebo group (p = 0.000). The quality of life also showed significant improvements in patients receiving propolis, particularly with regards to emotional functioning (p = 0.03), global QoL functioning (p = 0.04), and financial difficulties (p = 0.01) compared to the control group. Propolis is suggested an adequate and safe therapeutic option to improve the nutritional status and quality of life in patients diagnosed with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy. However, more trials are needed in order to draw robust conclusions with regard to its efficacy in chemotherapy-induced side effects.

The evaluation of iron deficiency and anemia in male blood donors with other related factors.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional disorders worldwide and blood donation may cause iron depletion. Limited studies with large sample size have been done on male donors. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia among male donors in the Kurdistan Organization of Blood Transfusion in Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. Sample size was 1184 blood donors selected by systematic random sampling. Hemoglobin, serum iron, serum ferritin, total iron banding capacity (TIBC) and transferin saturation were measured in donors. Iron depletion, lack of iron stores, iron deficiency, iron deficiency anemia and anemia were evaluated among them. Data was analyzed with SPSS software and X(2), one-way ANOVA, and LSD test. RESULTS: Iron deficiency, anemia, iron deficiency anemia, iron depletion and lack of iron resources were seen in 2.3, 4.08, 2.14, 22.76 and 4.66 percent respectively. There was a significant relationship of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia with instances of donation and interval from last donation (P < 0.05). A significant relationship was seen between iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia among blood donors with more than ten times blood donation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed regular male donors require especial attention. Therefore, serum ferritin is recommended as a more adequate index to use for iron deficiency screening and planning purposes for iron supplementation among them.