Objective: Several human trials have confirmed that Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (Lp299v) relief the gastrointestinal symptoms observed in patients with irritable bowel syndrome, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. These symptoms are similar to those associated with home enteral nutrition and they affect nutritional status as well as patients' quality of life. The aims of this study were to determine the effect of Lp299v on nutritional status, enteral formula tolerance, and quality of life in cancer patients.
Patients and methods: The current double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled study included 35 cancer patients receiving home enteral nutrition. There were 2 groups of participants consuming either 2 x 10^10 CFU of Lp299v (n=21) or placebo (n=14) for 4 weeks.
Results: An increase in the serum albumin concentration was significantly higher in the Lp299v group than in the placebo group at the endpoint (p=0.032). Moreover, the changes in the frequency of vomiting and flatulence were significantly reduced at week 4 compared to baseline in the Lp299v group (p=0.0117). The improvement of quality of life was observed in both groups; however, with no statistically significant differences between the analyzed groups (p>0.05).
Conclusions: We have demonstrated that administration of Lp299v in cancer patients receiving home enteral nutrition may improve laboratory parameters, predominantly the concentration of albumin, however, overall it does not have an impact on nutritional status. Lp299v may reduce the gastrointestinal symptoms related to enteral nutrition; notwithstanding, the improvement of quality of life may be the result of enteral nutrition rather than the effect of administration of Lp299v.