Effect of symbiotic supplementation on fecal calprotectin levels and lactic acid bacteria, Bifidobacteria, Escherichia coli and Salmonella DNA in patients with cervical cancer

Background: Patients with cervical cancer (CC) receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy have several gastrointestinal adverse effects. Objective: To evaluate the effect of dietary symbiotic supplementation on fecal calprotectin, bacterial DNA levels, and gastrointestinal adverse effects in patients with CC. Methods: Clinical, controlled, randomized, double-blind trial. Patients consumed symbiotics or placebo three times a day for 7 weeks. Fecal calprotectin was assessed by Elisa method. DNA from probiotic and pathogenic bacteria were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Diarrheal evacuations were evaluated with the Bristol scale and nausea and vomiting were measured using the scale of the National Institute of Cancerology of the United States. Results: Fecal calprotectin concentration was lower in the symbiotic group compared to the control group (p <0.001). The concentrations and total proportions of the probiotic and pathogenic bacteria were similar in both groups. Nausea cases significantly diminished in both groups (p <0.001) at the end of the trial. Furthermore, the symbiotic group had a statistically significant decrease in the frequency and intensity of vomiting when compared to the control group (p <0.001). Conclusions: The symbiotic treatment decreases significantly the fecal calprotectin levels and the frequency and intensity of vomiting in patients with CC. KEYWORDS: faecal calprotectin, cervical cancer, symbiotic, qPCR.