Study Investigates Nutritional Strategies to Alleviate Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Cancer Patients

Recent research from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has focused on identifying effective nutritional therapies to reduce gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms associated with cancer treatments. While modern therapies are highly successful at targeting and destroying tumors, they often cause significant GI side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting, which can negatively affect patients’ quality of life and sometimes lead to discontinuation of treatment.

The study, published in the journal Advances in Nutrition, involved a thorough analysis of nearly 16,000 scientific publications to discern which nutrition interventions are most beneficial for managing GI discomfort in cancer patients. From this extensive review, the researchers narrowed their focus to 139 high-quality studies encompassing over 10,000 patients. These studies examined various interventions such as nutrient supplements—including amino acids like glutamine, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, herbs, minerals (notably zinc and ginger), and essential fatty acids (like omega-3s)—as well as dietary counseling and oral nutritional supplements.

The findings indicate that nutrient supplementation, especially probiotics and amino acids, can significantly reduce symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Notably, probiotics were particularly effective in lowering diarrhea in colorectal cancer cases. The researchers also found that dietary counseling improved GI symptoms, although the personalized nature of these interventions made it difficult to specify which strategies were most successful.

Interestingly, standard oral nutritional supplements, such as meal replacer drinks, did not show a direct benefit in alleviating GI symptoms, although they were nutritionally complete and did not exacerbate GI issues. The scientists suggest that future product development could incorporate beneficial nutrients such as ginger and probiotics to help manage GI side effects more effectively.

Lead researcher Brett Loman emphasized the importance of addressing GI symptoms to improve patients’ overall quality of life during cancer treatment. He highlighted the potential for dietitians and healthcare providers to use this evidence to tailor nutritional interventions based on cancer type and treatment. The ultimate goal is to develop targeted treatment regimens that can systematically reduce GI distress, enabling patients to continue therapy without unnecessary discomfort.

This comprehensive review underscores the significant role nutrition can play in supporting cancer patients, highlighting the need for further clinical trials to test nutrient-focused therapies. If successfully developed, specially formulated nutritional products could become a valuable addition to cancer care, reducing side effects and enhancing patient well-being.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-analysis-aims-ease-gi-symptoms.html