Cangiano, C., Laviano, A., Meguid, M.M., Mulieri, M., Conversano, L., Preziosa, I., & Rossi-Fanelli, F. (1996). Effects of administration of oral branched-chain amino acids on anorexia and caloric intake in cancer patients. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 88, 550–552.
To evaluate the efficacy of oral branched-chain amino acids versus placebo on anorexia and food intake in patients with cancer
A mixture of 4.8 g branched-chain amino acids was administered three times daily versus placebo powder three times daily for 60 minutes before each meal for seven consecutive days.
Multiple institutions in Italy that were not listed or further described
A double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized trial design was used.
Nutritional status was within normal limits for both groups prior to and at the end of study. Daily caloric intake was significantly increased in the treatment arm. There was no change in the placebo group. Incidence of anorexia was significantly decreased in the treatment arm (100% prior to and 45% at the end of study). There was no significant change in the placebo arm (100% prior to and 84% at the end of study). Blood tests showed a significant increase in plasma amino acid levels and a decrease in free tryptophan levels in the treatment arm and no change in levels noted in the placebo arm.