Evaluation Of Spirulina In The Supportive Treatment Associated To Palliative Chemotherapy In Patients With Advanced Oncologic Disease.

e21602 Background: The use of phytotherapy as supportive treatment in patients with oncologic disease has been showed as a usual practice controling symptoms related to chemotherapeutic agents. Spirulina is a sweety water algae and a phytotherapeutic agent, which is known in Asia and South America as a dietary supplement, due to its nutritional properties. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the association of Spirulina in the conventional treatment and the nutritional laboratories parameters in patients with advanced disease receiving palliative chemoterapeutic treatment. Methods: One hundred and twenty patients with solid tumors (breast, lung, GI tract, prostate, malignant melanoma, oropharynx, gynecologic, sarcoma and pancreas cancer) were included, all with Stage IV (TNM Scale) and median age of 62 ± 6 years (40 to 88 years). Treatment consisted with conventional chemotherapy plus Spirulina at 380 mg, twice a day, continuously and before meal. Serum biochemistry as hemoglobin, albumin, C reactive protein were evaluated and also weight gain and the fold of the thumb muscle, before the beginning of treatment and every 3 weeks, with median evaluation of 6 weeks. Results: One hundred and sixteen (97,6%) of patients were evaluated and four came out of treatment due to gastrointestinal intolerance. The average weight gain was 600 g (-1kg to +1.6 kg) being that, seventy patients had stable weight. The fold of the thumb muscle remained stable during the evaluation period, as the hemoglobin levels, with a median count of 10,2 g/dl. The complaints of weakness and malaise improved even with stable levels of hemoglobin. The average lymphocyte count was 950 mm3 (410 to 1400 mm3), albumin levels was 3,2 g/dl (2,1 to 4,1 g/dl) and C reactive protein was 59,4 ng/dl (2 to 140 ng/dl). Conclusions: We conclude that the use of Sipirulina represents an effective alternative in the nutritional support in patients with advanced oncologic disease and also improved the laboratory biomarkers of nutrition.