Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional
Official Title: Efficacy of Symbiotic in the Reduction of Acute Radiation Proctitis Symptoms. A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial
Brief Summary: Radiation proctitis is quite common in treatment of pelvic tumors. We investigated whether the use of symbiotic would prevent early symptoms of radiation proctitis and improve the quality of life in patients undergoing radiotherapy for prostate cancer treatment. We randomized patients to intake one sachet of either a symbiotic product containing 4.3 g of dietary fiber and Lactobacillus reuteri in a concentration greater than 10(8)colony forming units (CFU)(Fibermais Flora Nestlé Brazil) or sachets containing 5 g of maltodextrin. They were instructed to dilute one sachet in 200mL of water and drink once a day during the week before the beginning of radiotherapy sessions, and increase the dose to two sachets daily after the beginning of the sessions for four weeks. Every week a questionnaire named EORTC QLQ-PRT23 was applied to evaluate GI symptoms and quality of life.