RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Influence of Protein Intake on Muscle Mass and Health-related Quality of Life During and After Radiotherapy

This study aims to understand how much protein cancer patients eat before and after receiving radiotherapy. We want to find out if the amount of protein, and when it's eaten, affects their muscle strength and how well they feel during and after treatment. Many cancer patients lose weight and muscle, which can make them feel worse. Doctors believe that eating enough protein is very important for keeping muscles strong and helping people cope with treatment. This research hopes to give us a clearer picture so that we can better support patients with their nutrition to improve their overall well-being during a challenging time.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

Charite University, Berlin, Germany

Enrolment target

175

Start

16 Oct 2024

Estimated completion

31 Dec 2026

Malnutrition; Cachexia

What is this study about?

When people have cancer, and especially when they're having treatments like radiotherapy, it's common for them to lose weight and muscle. This can make them feel tired and less able to do everyday things. Doctors know that getting enough nutrients, especially protein, is really important during this time. Protein helps to build and repair muscles, and it's essential for countless processes in the body.

However, we don't fully understand if the amount of protein people eat, or even when they eat it during the day, changes how much muscle they keep and how they feel during and after radiotherapy. This study aims to fill that gap. We're going to carefully track what patients eat, focusing on their energy and protein intake, both before their radiotherapy starts and then after it finishes. We'll also look at their muscle mass to see if there's a link between their protein intake and how their muscles are doing.

The main goal of this research is to learn more about how nutrition can help people undergoing cancer treatment. By better understanding the role of protein, we hope to find ways to give patients the best possible advice and support to maintain their strength and quality of life throughout their treatment journey. It's about helping people feel as well as they can during a difficult time.

Key takeaways

This study looks at protein intake and muscle during radiotherapy.
It aims to see if diet affects how people feel and their muscle strength.
No new treatments are given; it's about observing diet and body changes.
Your participation could help improve care for future cancer patients.
All data is collected confidentially and ethically.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be at least 45 years old. You must also be able to understand and speak German well enough to take part. You'll need to be scheduled for radiotherapy treatment that involves at least 10 sessions.

There are some reasons why you wouldn't be able to join. For example, if you're already taking part in another study that involves an intervention, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you wouldn't be eligible. Also, if your Body Mass Index (BMI) is very low (below 18.5), or if you have certain implanted medical devices like a pacemaker or defibrillator, you wouldn't be able to participate because it could interfere with some of the measurements we need to take.

We're looking for both men and women between the ages of 45 and 75 to take part in this important research.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 45 years old or older?
Do you speak and understand German well?
Are you scheduled for radiotherapy with at least 10 sessions?
Are you NOT pregnant or breastfeeding?
Do you NOT have a very low BMI (under 18.5)?
Do you NOT have a pacemaker or other implanted electrical device?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, we will ask you to record your food intake before and after your radiotherapy treatment. This will help us understand how much energy and protein you are getting. We will also measure your muscle mass at different points. There won't be any new medicines or treatments given as part of this study; we are simply observing and collecting information about your usual diet and body changes during your radiotherapy. We will tell you how long your involvement will last, but generally, it will involve monitoring during and after your scheduled radiotherapy. You will be asked to attend a few extra appointments for these measurements.

Potential risks and benefits

There are no significant risks associated with taking part in this study, as it mainly involves recording your food intake and having standard measurements of your body. The main benefit is that your information will help us better understand how to support future cancer patients during radiotherapy, by improving nutritional guidelines. While there might not be a direct personal health benefit from participating, you would be contributing valuable knowledge to medical science. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Charité University Medicine Berlin
Verified postcode
Berlin, Germany· Recruiting

Common questions

What is radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells.

What does 'protein intake' mean?

Protein intake refers to the amount of protein you eat as part of your diet.

Why is muscle important during cancer treatment?

Muscles help you stay strong, move around, and can impact how well you cope with treatment. Losing too much muscle can make you feel weaker.

Do I have to change my diet for this study?

No, you don't need to change your diet. We just want to record what you normally eat.

Will I get my own results?

The study aims to gather overall information. We will explain how individual results are handled during the consent process.

How to find out more

Franziska Hausmann, MD

franziska.hausmann@charite.de 030 450557088 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.