Clinical effects of hydration, supplementary vitamins, and trace elements during end-of-life care for cancer patients.

Introduction

current data regarding the decision on rehydration of patients with terminal-stage cancer remain controversial.

Objective

the present study was to evaluate the effect of intravenous hydration and supplementary vitamins and trace elements on clinical symptoms and biochemical parameters in palliative cancer patients.

Methods

a randomized clinical trial including 72 palliative cancer patients aged 18 years and older was performed at the National Cancer Institute in Mexico. Patients were divided into two groups: intervention and control, both receiving intravenous saline solution weekly for 4 weeks, but the former was also supplemented with vitamins and trace elements. Symptoms were assessed at baseline and 4 weeks after with the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale. Same measurements applied to biochemical parameters.

Results

the mean age of the patients was 58.75 years. The most frequent cancer diagnoses were gastrointestinal (32 %). In the between-groups analysis significant improvements were found for the intervention group in anorexia (p = 0.024), pain (p = 0.030), chloride (p = 0.043), phosphorus (p = 0.001), potassium (p = 0.006), and total proteins (< 0.0001).

Conclusion

we highlight the improvement in the control of most symptoms and some biochemical parameters in the intervention group receiving vitamins and oligoelements along with intravenous hydration. Further studies are needed.