Effect Of Kefir On The Quality Of Life Of Patients Being Treated For Colorectal Cancer
| Effect | Increase |
| Values | In patients undergoing chemotherapy for colorectal cancer, those who took kefir experienced more mouth sores (29% in kefir group, 14% in control). |
| Trial Design | Randomized trial |
| Trial Length | 1-6 months |
| Number of Subjects | 37 |
| Sex | n/a |
| Age Range | 18-29, 30-44, 45-64, 65+ |
Thirty-seven adult Turkish colorectal cancer patients were given either 250 mL twice a day of industrially prepared kefir (17 patients) or nothing (20 patients) during the six one-week courses of their chemotherapy. Significantly more of the patients taking kefir experienced physical symptoms of chemotherapy side effects (dry mouth, nausea, drowsiness, bloating, vomiting, sweats, lack of appetite, difficulty swallowing, mouth sores, weight loss, hair loss) with the exception of difficulty sleeping, which was reported by significantly less of the kefir group. The kefir group also had significantly higher scores on a scale of psychological distress. However, there wasn't a significant difference between the control and kefir groups on quality-of-life scores.The study authors do not recommend using kefir during chemotherapy for colorectal cancer.Funding issues for this study:
"No financial relationships to disclose."
