Effects of administration of oral branched-chain amino acids on anorexia and caloric intake in cancer patients

In this double-blind prospective study, the authors examined theeffect of an oral supplement consisting of a branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) mixture or an isonitrogenous placebo on food intake in anorexic cancer patients (n = 28). For all patients, biochemical indices of nutritional status were within the normal range before and after the study. BCAA supplement (3 times 4.8 g/d for 7 consecutive days) increased BCAA concentrations in plasma (+121% on day 7 vs day 0) and decreased the tryptophan/large neutral amino acids (LNAA) ratio by 40%. Meanwhile, incidence of anorexia decreased in the BCAA-treated group (100% prior vs. 45% at the end of the study) but not in the placebo group (84% at the end of the study). The authors conclude that oral BCAA supplement can be safely used in the treatment of cancer-induced anorexia.