ABSTRACT
Symptom management remains challenging in cancer care. Emerging from nutritional science, nutritional metabolomics has seen exponential growth over recent years, aiming to discern the relationship between dietary habits and health consequences. This protocol aims to present the rationale and methodology for conducting a scoping review to summarize the extent of evidence on synbiotics utilization in cancer symptom management among adults. The scoping review will be undertaken in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) principles and the research process guided by the PRISMA 2020 scoping reviews extension. The following electronic databases will be searched from the inception: PubMed, Cinahl, Web of Science and Scopus. The authors expect to map the literature regarding the clinical outcomes, including patient-report measures and patient-experience measures, on which the effects of probiotics were tested, and identify potential gaps. This protocol presents a rigorous methodological approach to map the literature on the clinical outcomes that the utilization of synbiotics might improve. This analysis will shape future researchers to examine the efficacy of probiotics on specific clinical outcomes in oncology care. Nurses are uniquely positioned to influence cancer symptom management through the selection and use of appropriate interventions in the field of nutritional supplements, along with nutritional counseling.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study systematically investigates the evidence regarding the use of probiotics in managing cancer-related fatigue (CRF). STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. DATA SOURCES: The systematic search encompassed six databases: PubMed, CINHAL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Web of Science, Scopus, and EMBASE, covering the period from inception to December 2023. The assessment of risk of bias employed the Cochrane risk of bias tool (RoB 2). A narrative synthesis and an exploratory meta-analysis were conducted to summarize the evidence. RESULTS: Among 460 records, three studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. These studies involved a total of 284 participants with colorectal and breast cancer. One study demonstrated a marginal improvement in CRF postchemotherapy in colorectal cancer patients using probiotics. Another study, also using probiotics, reported a significant reduction in CRF among colorectal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Additionally, a study employing synbiotics showed a substantial decrease in CRF severity in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: The study presents initial but varied evidence suggesting the potential of probiotics and synbiotics as adjunctive therapies in managing CRF alongside anticancer treatments. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: In nursing practice, large-scale clinical trials are urgently needed to evaluate the effectiveness of probiotics in treating cancer-related fatigue during cancer therapy. Insights from this review could guide nurses in selecting appropriate probiotic strains and integrating microbiome modifiers into comprehensive care plans, potentially enhancing the quality of life for cancer patients.
