Clinical effects of hydration, supplementary vitamins, and trace elements during end-of-life care for cancer patients.

INTRODUCTION: current data regarding the decision on rehydration of patients with terminal-stage cancer remain controversial.

OBJECTIVE: the present study was to evaluate the effect of intravenous hydration and supplementary vitamins and trace elements on clinical symptoms and biochemical parameters in palliative cancer patients.

METHODS: a randomized clinical trial including 72 palliative cancer patients aged 18 years and older was performed at the National Cancer Institute in Mexico. Patients were divided into two groups: intervention and control, both receiving intravenous saline solution weekly for 4 weeks, but the former was also supplemented with vitamins and trace elements. Symptoms were assessed at baseline and 4 weeks after with the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale. Same measurements applied to biochemical parameters.

RESULTS: the mean age of the patients was 58.75 years. The most frequent cancer diagnoses were gastrointestinal (32 %). In the between-groups analysis significant improvements were found for the intervention group in anorexia (p = 0.024), pain (p = 0.030), chloride (p = 0.043), phosphorus (p = 0.001), potassium (p = 0.006), and total proteins (< 0.0001).

CONCLUSION: we highlight the improvement in the control of most symptoms and some biochemical parameters in the intervention group receiving vitamins and oligoelements along with intravenous hydration. Further studies are needed.