Guarana (Paullinia Cupana) for Breast Cancer Chemotherapy-related Fatigue

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The investigators hypothesize that Guaraná, a native plant from the Amazon, might improve chemotherapy-induced fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing treatment. In order to assess this, the investigators randomized patients to either guaraná extract or to placebo, switching the assigned treatment mid-term through the cycles of Chemotherapy.

Detailed Description
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The aim of this study is evaluate the favourable effects of Guaraná in quality of life and Fatigue in patients undergoing Chemotherapy treatment for Breast Cancer. After approval by our Institutional Review Board, we included consenting patients with a histological diagnosis of Breast Cancer for whom Chemotherapy was indicated. Patients who agreed to participate in the study were submitted initially to a screening interview with the Brief Fatigue Inventory questionnaire from MD Anderson. If the patient presented with a severe fatigue, anemia (HB<11.0), hypothyroidism or psychiatric disorders she was excluded. If she presented with a mild or moderate fatigue the follow up continued and the patient was assessed 21 days later after her first cycle of chemotherapy with the same questionnaire. If an increase in fatigue levels occurred from mild to moderate, mild to severe or moderate to severe the patient was randomly assigned to receive either Guaraná 50mg or a placebo p.o. q12 for 21 days. At this moment the patient answered a General questionnaire, FACIT-F, FACIT-ES, HADS, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire (Day 1). After the second cycle of chemotherapy the patient underwent a wash out period of 7 days without any intervention, and after that period she received placebo or Guaraná according to the cross over design after answering for the second time the questionnaires above (Day 29) and also the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v3.0 (CTCAE). After 21 days (Day 42) she was assessed again with the same questionnaires used in the second interview. The patient's cancer diagnosis, treatment history, concurrent medication was recorded during the pretreatment and The Brief Fatigue Inventory was answered before each assessment.

Official Title
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Guaraná (Paullinia Cupana) for Chemotherapy Related Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients: Results Of A Pilot Double Blind Randomized Study

Conditions
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Signs and Symptoms, Neoplasms, Neoplasms by Site, Fatigue, Breast Neoplasms, Breast Diseases

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Guarana extract


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Histological diagnosis of Breast Cancer Patients undergoing Chemotherapy (First Cycle) 18 years old or older Exclusion Criteria: Hypothyroidism Clinical Depression Prior Chemotherapy Anemia Unable to sign informed consent Severe Fatigue

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Guaraná extract 50mg q12 hours<br>Guaraná extract pills of 50mg q12 hours for 21 days | Drug: Guarana extract<br>* Guarana extract 50mg q12 hours for 21 days<br>* Other names: Paullinia Cupana;|
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo 1 tab q12 hours<br>Placebo pills 1 tab q12 hours for 21 days | Drug: Guarana extract<br>* Guarana extract 50mg q12 hours for 21 days<br>* Other names: Paullinia Cupana;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fatigue improvement between the baseline to D21 or from D21 to D42 measured by Chalder Fatigue Scale, FACT-F and FACT-ES questionnaires |  | 42 days | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| To access the quality of life between the baseline to D21 or from D21 to D42 measured by FACT-F and FACT ES questionnaires |  | 42 days | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Fatigue, Breast Neoplasms, Quality of Life, Paullinia