Investigating the Influence of Probiotic Bacteria on Anemia and White Blood Cells Count in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy

Probiotics are live microorganisms that are applied as drugs or food supplements and help to maintain healthy beneficial microbial balance in the digestive tract of a human or another host. Probiotics may help strengthen homeostasis and thus reduce side effects; associated with cancer treatment. Experimental evidence suggests that probiotics might have a beneficial effect on the toxicity of anticancer therapy.

In this study, the double-blind clinical trial was used to collect information and data. Eligible participants were randomly divided into two experimental groups (probiotic) and a control group (placebo). At the start of the study, during a meeting for all participants in the study, the benefits and importance of integrity and their collaboration were described. Subjects received one gram of probiotic or placebo for 60 days, along with information on the time and how to use it. Also, all participants avoided the use of yogurt and any supplementary probiotic products during the study period to avoid any inaccuracy in evaluating the involved factors. At the end of 60 days, the blood samples of the subjects were examined. The number of white blood cells (WBCs), blood hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) were measured and analyzed. People who did not follow the instructions for any reason were excluded from the study.

The effect of probiotics on reducing the complications of chemotherapy in patients with gastrointestinal cancer was studied. The statistical results did not show much difference in the increase of these factors before and after the administration of the drug but clinical examination of these factors showed that probiotics can increase blood factors. Probiotics may have a positive effect on the increase in blood factor levels (MCH, MCV, HCT, HGB, WBC) by increasing the duration of receiving probiotics.

In this research, the effects of probiotics on the increase of blood factors were investigated for the first time. Although statistical analysis of the results showed that probiotics did not affect the increase of these factors, clinical examination of the results showed that probiotics can increase blood factors. Therefore, by changing the appropriate dose, time, and diet, the duration of probiotics may positively affect the level of blood factors (MCH, MCV, HCT, HGB, and WBC) and improve the living conditions in these patients.